Abstract
IntroductionThis study was designed to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and to examine treatment and healthcare resource utilization patterns of this patient population in a United States (US) community-based oncology practice setting over time.Methods and MaterialsA retrospective observational study was conducted within the US Oncology Network (USON). Patients were eligible if they were diagnosed with advanced or metastatic STS and were treated at a USON site between 01 July 2015 and 31 August 2018. Demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics were described for the overall study population. Comparisons between patients by time period (prior to and after October 2016) were evaluated using the T test for continuous variables and chi-squared test for categorical variables. Data were available for analysis through 31 August 2018.ResultsDemographic and clinical characteristics of the eligible study cohort (N = 376) were similar between patients who initiated treatment before and after October 2016 (all p > 0.05). Forty-three unique regimens were observed in the first-line setting, with the predominant regimen (gemcitabine + docetaxel) received by 33.2% (n = 125) patients. Prior to October 2016, 45.4% of patients received first-line gemcitabine + docetaxel, while 29.0% received this regimen after October 2016.ConclusionsWhile demographic and clinical characteristics were similar, treatment patterns changed in 2016. Future research should evaluate the impact of changing drug approvals and clinical trial results on future treatment patterns.
Highlights
In the United States (US), soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is considered a relatively rare cancer, accounting for fewer than 1% of all malignancies [1, 2]
Is study was designed to describe current clinical and demographic characteristics, treatment patterns, and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among patients diagnosed with advanced or metastatic STS in a US community-based network of oncology practices. ese factors were compared among the cohorts treated prior to and following the October 2016 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-accelerated approval of olaratumab
A targeted chart review was performed to capture information on key variables that were anticipated to be poorly documented in the structured electronic health record (EHR) fields. is included capture of some data only available in unstructured fields, including information on hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits that occurred during the study observation period, as well as histological subtypes and tumor location
Summary
In the United States (US), soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is considered a relatively rare cancer, accounting for fewer than 1% of all malignancies [1, 2]. Based on a medical record review of 99 patients with metastatic or relapsed STS treated in a tertiary academic cancer care center between 2001 and 2011, most patients received anthracycline- or gemcitabinebased regimens, but there was not a predominant treatment in any line of therapy [10]. E accelerated approval was based on phase II trial results that demonstrated a median overall survival of 26.5 months among patients with metastatic STS treated with olaratumab and doxorubicin combination therapy, compared with 14.7 months among patients receiving doxorubicin alone [13]. E clinical benefit of olaratumab and doxorubicin, was not confirmed in the subsequent phase III ANNOUCE trial [14] In this trial, patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic STS were randomized to receive doxorubicin with olaratumab or placebo. Is study was designed to describe current clinical and demographic characteristics, treatment patterns, and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among patients diagnosed with advanced or metastatic STS in a US community-based network of oncology practices. ese factors were compared among the cohorts treated prior to and following the October 2016 FDA-accelerated approval of olaratumab
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
