Elsevier

Value in Health

Volume 16, Issue 6, September–October 2013, Pages 1081-1090
Value in Health

Complete Cytogenetic Response and Major Molecular Response as Surrogate Outcomes for Overall Survival in First-Line Treatment of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: A Case Study for Technology Appraisal on the Basis of Surrogate Outcomes Evidence

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Abstract

Objectives

In 2012, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence assessed dasatinib, nilotinib, and standard-dose imatinib as first-line treatment of chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Licensing of these alternative treatments was based on randomized controlled trials assessing complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response (MMR) at 12 months as primary end points. We use this case study to illustrate the validation of CCyR and MMR as surrogate outcomes for overall survival in CML and how this evidence was used to inform National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s recommendation on the public funding of these first-line treatments for CML.

Methods

We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the association between CCyR and MMR at 12 months and overall survival in patients with chronic phase CML. We estimated life expectancy by extrapolating long-term survival from the weighted overall survival stratified according to the achievement of CCyR and MMR.

Results

Five studies provided data on the observational association between CCyR or MMR and overall survival. Based on the pooled association between CCyR and MMR and overall survival, our modeling showed comparable predicted mean duration of survival (21–23 years) following first-line treatment with imatinib, dasatinib, or nilotinib.

Conclusions

This case study illustrates the consideration of surrogate outcome evidence in health technology assessment. Although it is often recommended that the acceptance of surrogate outcomes be based on randomized controlled trial data demonstrating an association between the treatment effect on both the surrogate outcome and the final outcome, this case study shows that policymakers may be willing to accept a lower level of evidence (i.e., observational association).

Keywords

chronic myeloid leukemia
complete cytogenetic response
dasatinib
health technology assessment
HTA
imatinib
intermediate outcomes
major molecular response
nilotinib
surrogate end points
systematic review
technology appraisal

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