Guidelines for health technologies: specific guidance for oncology products in Canada.

Objective: Specific methodological challenges are often encountered during cancer-related economic evaluations. The objective of this study was to provide specific guidance to analysts on the methods for the conduct of high-quality economic evaluations in oncology by building on the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health Guidelines for the Economic Evaluation of Health Technologies (third edition).

Methods: Fifteen oncologists, health economists, health services researchers, and decision makers from across Canada identified sections in Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health guidelines that would benefit from oncology-specific guidance.

Erlotinib or best supportive care for third-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a real-world cost-effectiveness analysis.

Unlabelled: Erlotinib has been approved as a third-line treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in British Columbia (BC). A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted to compare costs and effectiveness in patients who received third-line erlotinib to those in a historical patient cohort that would have been eligible had erlotinib been available.

Methods: In a population of patients who have been treated with drugs for advanced NSCLC, overall survival (OS), progression-to-death survival (PTD) and probability of survival one year after end of second-line (1YS) were determined using a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Raltitrexed: optimism and reality.

Background: Raltitrexed was developed as a direct and specific inhibitor of thymidylate synthase. Early clinical trials showed similar activity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), mainly in metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC).

Methods: Pharmacokinetics are summarized and Phase III adjuvant and MCRC trials of raltitrexed are reviewed.

Impact on patient satisfaction with a structured counselling approach on natural health products.

Purpose: Natural health products (NHP) are commonly used by cancer patients. The provision of better information on NHP may improve the patient satisfaction and quality of life. We report the impact on patient satisfaction by routine counselling on NHP.

Evaluation of predictive formulae for glomerular filtration rate for carboplatin dosing in gynecological malignancies.

Objectives: Carboplatin dosing is usually based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The Cockcroft-Gault and the Modified Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study formulae are based on serum creatinine to estimate GFR when measured GFR is impractical. The MDRD formula has been shown to be more accurate in non-cancer patients with chronic renal disease.

Psychometric assessment and application of a questionnaire measuring patient: satisfaction with information on cancer treatment.

Objective: Pharmaceutical care follows a needs-based approach. Cancer patients form a group with particular needs. Information about cancer treatment plays an important role in terms of coping strategies, initiation of self-care behaviour, and quality of life.