Individual patient treatment requests: process and evaluation of the use of third-line single-agent cetuximab
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence & Practice    

Individual patient treatment requests: process and evaluation of the use of third-line single-agent cetuximab

Hazel Steel Macmillan colorectal cancer clinical nurse specialist, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Kilmarnock, Scotland
Jeff White Consultant medical oncologist, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
Aileen Roy MacMillan colorectal cancer nurse specialist, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Kilmarnock, Scotland
Nicholas MacLeod Consultant clinical oncologist, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
Ethel McLean Lead cancer audit facilitator, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Kilmarnock, Scotland
Nabanita Bose Specialty doctor, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Kilmarnock, Scotland
Amy Kerr MacMillan colorectal cancer CNS, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Kilmarnock, Scotland
Diane Woodburn Clinical oncology pharmacist, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Kilmarnock, Scotland
Alec McDonald Consultant clinical oncologist, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
Aim

Single agent cetuximab can be used as palliative treatment for chemo-refractory colorectal cancer (CRC). Although randomised trial data suggest its use is associated with enhanced progression-free and overall survival, access to the drug in Scotland was until recently limited. The aim of the study was to retrospectively review the authors' experience of gaining access to cetuximab, and the efficacy of the treatment for this patient group.

Method

Patients with CRC were identified retrospectively from an electronic prescribing database. The authors reviewed the case sheets in relation to ease of access to the drug, toxicities and efficacy.

Results

Treatment was actively sought for 18 patients between 2010 and 2014, of whom nine were initially denied access to the drug, however ultimately 13 received the treatment. This group had a median survival of 15 months.

Conclusion

There were challenges associated with accessing cetuximab through the system in place at the time of review. The drug has demonstrated considerable efficacy and only modest toxicity in this small retrospective series.

Cancer Nursing Practice. doi: 10.7748/cnp.2017.e1389

Correspondence

Hazel.steel@nhs.net

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Received: 16 December 2016

Accepted: 09 May 2017

Published online: 24 June 2017

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