Randomized crossover study in patients with neuroendocrine tumors to assess patient preference for lanreotide Autogel® given by either self/partner or a health care professional

Abstract

Viktor Johanson,1 Benedicte Wilson,2 Anna Abrahamsson,3 Constantin Jianu,4 Jan Calissendorff,5 Najme Wall,6 Henning Grønbæk,7 Jon Florholmen,8 Anders Öhberg,9 Dan Granberg101Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden; 2Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; 3Karolinska Institutet, Department of Hepatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden; 4Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, St Olav Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; 5Karolinska Institutet, Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden; 6Department of Oncology, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden; 7Department of Medicine V, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; 8Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway; 9Medical Department, Ipsen AB, Stockholm, Sweden; 10Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Endocrine Oncology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SwedenBackground: Lanreotide Autogel® is supplied in prefilled syringes. Therefore, it is possible for patients with neuroendocrine tumors to use self-/partner-administered injections. The primary objective of this study was to assess the proportion of patients preferring self/partner injections over injections administered by health care professionals, and to describe the impact of self/partner administration on efficacy, safety, and costs.Methods: Of 62 eligible patients, 26 (42%) patients with neuroendocrine tumors treated with a stable dose of lanreotide Autogel 90 mg or 120 mg every 4 weeks agreed to participate in this Phase IV, international, open-label, crossover study, conducted at hospitals in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Patients were randomized to two blocks, starting with administration of lanreotide Autogel by either self/partner or a health care professional. Preference for injections administered by self/partner or health care professionals was measured, as well as efficacy, safety, and health care resource utilization (both direct and indirect costs).Results: Of 25 evaluable patients, 22 (88%) preferred self/partner injections, mainly because they experienced increased independence. Based on all patients asked to participate (n = 62), 35% preferred self/partner injections on a regular basis. There was no difference in efficacy or safety between the two administration blocks.Conclusion: Many patients with neuroendocrine tumors prefer self/partner injection of lanreotide Autogel, and are able to self/partner inject without any impact on efficacy or safety. This administration method seems to provide a good alternative for suitable patients to increase patient independence and reduce the number of clinic visits.Keywords: neuroendocrine tumors, carcinoid syndrome, self administration, somatostatin analogs, lanreotide