AI Summary
This study analyzed treatment patterns and overall survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients in the US, Canada, and Germany from 2011 to 2020. The percentage of patients receiving first-line treatment varied between countries, but the use of immunotherapies/targeted treatments increased over time in all three countries. Overall survival improved from 2011 to 2020 in all three countries. The differences in treatment patterns require further investigation.
Abstract
Background
This study aimed to describe treatment patterns and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) in three countries between 2011 and 2020.
Methods
Three databases (US, Canada, Germany) were used to identify incident aNSCLC patients. OS was assessed from the date of incident aNSCLC diagnosis and, for patients who received at least a first line of therapy (1LOT), from the date of 1LOT initiation. In multivariable analyses, we analyzed the influence of index year and type of prescribed treatment on OS.
Findings
We included 51,318 patients with an incident aNSCLC diagnosis. The percentage of patients treated with a 1LOT differed substantially between countries, whereas the number of patients receiving immunotherapies/targeted treatments increased over time in all three countries. Median OS from the date of incident diagnosis was 9.9 months in the United States vs. 4.1 months in Canada. When measured from the start of 1LOT, patients had a median OS of 10.7 months in the United States, 10.9 months in Canada, and 10.9 months in Germany. OS from the start of 1LOT improved in all three countries from 2011 to 2020 by approximately 3 to 4 months.
Conclusions
Observed continuous improvement in OS among patients receiving at least a 1LOT from 2011 to 2020 was likely driven by improved care and changes in the treatment landscape. The difference in the proportion of patients receiving a 1LOT in the observed countries requires further investigation.