Treatment patterns, health state, and health care resource utilization of patients with radioactive iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer.
BACKGROUND
Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) often respond well to treatment but some become refractory to radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment, and treatment options are limited. Despite the humanistic and economic burden RAI refractory disease imposes on patients, published research concerning treatment patterns and health care resource utilization is sparse.


METHODS
Data were collected from an online retrospective chart review study in the US and five European Union (EU) countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and UK) with physicians recruited from an online panel. Physicians (N=211) provided demographics, disease history, treatment information, and health care resource utilization for one to four of their patients with radioactive iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC).


RESULTS
The majority of the patients with RR-DTC (N=623) were female (56%), and their mean age was 58.2 years. In this sample, 63.2% had papillary thyroid cancer and 57.0% were in Stage IV when deemed RAI refractory. Patients with RR-DTC experienced regional recurrence in the thyroid bed/central neck area (25.3%) and had distant metastatic disease (53.6%). At the time data were collected, 50.7% were receiving systemic treatment. Of those, 78.5% were on first-line treatment and 62.7% were receiving multikinase inhibitors. Regional differences for prescribed treatments were observed; the US was more likely to have patients receiving multikinase inhibitors (79.2%) compared with UK (41.2%) and Italy (17.1%). Additional details regarding treatment patterns and resource utilization are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study aimed to obtain a greater understanding of RR-DTC treatment globally. These results can assist in the development and implementation of treatment guidelines and ultimately enhance the care of patients with RR-DTC.
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, The University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Andrew G
AG
Gianoukakis
Health Outcomes Research, Kantar Health, Foster City, CA, USA.
Natalia M
NM
Flores
Global Value and Access, Eisai, Inc., Woodcliff Lakes, NJ, USA.
Corey L
CL
Pelletier
Global Value and Access, Eisai, Inc., Woodcliff Lakes, NJ, USA.
Anna
A
Forsythe
Health Outcomes Research, Kantar Health, Foster City, CA, USA.
Gregory R
GR
Wolfe
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Matthew H
MH
Taylor
cost of illness; disease burden; therapy options; thyroid cancer