Details of HTA project in progress
Last updated: 23 December 2008 - Next update due: 13 January 2009
Research type: |
NICE Technology Assessment Report (TAR) |
Project title: |
Topotecan for the second-line treatment of small cell lung cancer |
Link to NICE guidance page |
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Project ref: |
08/36/01 |
Cost: |
This project has been commissioned by the HTA programme on behalf of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on a call-off contract basis. |
Chief Investigator : |
Southampton Health Technology Assessment Centre (SHTAC), University of Southampton |
Start Date: |
September 2008. |
Publication date: |
Late 2009. This date takes account of time for report preparation and printing based on current average times for these activities. |
Plain English Summary |
Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the UK. Lung cancers are divided into two main groups based on the type and size of the tumour cells small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC accounts for approximately one in five of all cases of lung cancers and is largely caused by cigarette smoking. It is an aggressive form of cancer that grows quickly and spreads to other areas of the body rapidly, forming secondary tumours known as metastases. SCLC is classified into two stages, limited-stage and extensive-stage, according to the level of progression of the disease. In limited-stage disease, cancer is found in one lung, the tissues between the lungs and nearby lymph nodes only. In extensive-stage disease, the cancer has spread beyond the lung to other parts of the body. For most patients with SCLC, the prognosis is poor and current treatments do not cure the cancer. Surgery is an option, but is only suitable for a small minority of patients where the cancer is confined to one lung. Patients with SCLC usually have widespread disease at the time of diagnosis and thus first-line treatment involves chemotherapy, often in conjunction with radiotherapy. Although response rates to first-line treatment are generally high (particularly for limited-stage disease), many patients relapse and the cancer usually recurs within a year. Patients who respond to initial chemotherapy but experience relapse, or whose disease progressed during primary therapy, have a poor prognosis and short life expectancy two to three months if untreated and rarely more than six months even after second-line chemotherapy treatment. Second-line therapy may be re-treatment with the first-line therapy, or an alternative therapy. This review will summarise the results of clinical trials which evaluate the use of topotecan for second-line treatment of patients with SCLC. The report will include an economic evaluation to give an indication of the cost-effectiveness of topotecan for the NHS in England and Wales. |
Abstract: |
The aim of this health technology assessment is to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of topotecan for the second-line treatment of small cell lung cancer. NICE clinical guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer (NSCLC and SCLC) were published in 2005,1 but these guidelines do not include topotecan as this was licensed more recently in January 2006. Topotecan has been evaluated in a peer-reviewed systematic review of chemotherapy for SCLC2 with search dates up to October 2005. This health technology assessment will provide an up to date systematic review for topotecan used within its licensed indications for patients with SCLC. The HTA programme commissioned this technology assessmenrt report on behalf of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. |
NRR* number, if applicable: |
(*National Research Register) |
Project Protocol: |
Project protocol not available |
URL of this page: |
http://www.hta.ac.uk/1754 |
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