ObjectiveTo assess whether colon cancer follow-up can be organised by general practitioners (GPs) without a decline in the patient's quality of life (QoL) and increase in cost or time to cancer diagnoses, compared to hospital follow-up.DesignRandomised controlled trial.SettingNorthern Norway Health Authority Trust, 4 trusts, 11 hospitals and 88 local communities.ParticipantsPatients surgically treated for colon cancer, hospital surgeons and community GPs.Intervention24-month follow-up according to national guidelines at the community GP office. To ensure a high follow-up guideline adherence, a decision support tool for patients and GPs were used.Main outcome measuresPrimary outcomes were QoL, measured by the global health scales of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C-30) and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). Secondary outcomes were cost-effectiveness and time to cancer diagnoses.Results110 patients were randomised to intervention (n=55) or control (n=55), and followed by 78 GPs (942 follow-up months) and 70 surgeons (942 follow-up months), respectively. Compared to baseline, there was a significant improvement in postoperative QoL (p=0.003), but no differences between groups were revealed (mean difference at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24-month follow-up appointments): Global Health; Δ−2.23, p=0.20; EQ-5D index; Δ−0.10, p=0.48, EQ-5D VAS; Δ−1.1, p=0.44. There were no differences in time to recurrent cancer diagnosis (GP 35 days vs surgeon 45 days, p=0.46); 14 recurrences were detected (GP 6 vs surgeon 8) and 7 metastases surgeries performed (GP 3 vs surgeon 4). The follow-up programme initiated 1186 healthcare contacts (GP 678 vs surgeon 508), 1105 diagnostic tests (GP 592 vs surgeon 513) and 778 hospital travels (GP 250 vs surgeon 528). GP organised follow-up was associated with societal cost savings (£8233 vs £9889, p<0.001).ConclusionsGP-organised follow-up was associated with no decline in QoL, no increase in time to recurrent cancer diagnosis and cost savings.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00572143.

The economic evaluation indicates that trastuzumab is not cost effective in metastatic breast cancer. Reduced drug costs and/or improved survival may alter the conclusion.

BackgroundProgrammed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) targeting immunotherapies, as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, have significantly improved outcome in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tobacco smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer and is linked to 80%–90% of these cancers. Smoking during cancer therapy may influence on radiotherapy and chemotherapy outcome. We aimed to review the knowledge in immunotherapy.Patients and methodsA systematic review was done. We searched for documents and articles published in English language and registered in Cochrane Library, National Health Service (NHS) Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), Embase or Medline. The search terms were (A) (Lung cancer or NSCLC) with (pembrolizumab or nivolumab) with PD-L1 with (tobacco or smoking) and (B) Lung Neoplasms and Immunotherapy and (smoking cessation or patient compliance). 68 papers were detected and two more were added during review process (references) and six based on information from the manufacturers.ResultsNine papers were selected. High PD-L1 expression (≥50%) was correlated with current/ever smoking history in three studies. Six studies revealed a higher overall response rate (ORR) among current/former smokers. The ORR was generally (six studies) better among the current/former smoker group. So also when tumours had a molecular ‘smoking signature’ (one study). This was probably due to a higher mutational burden. In two studies, minor or no difference was revealed.One study (KEYNOTE-024) compared former and current smokers, and documented pembrolizumab being more effective among former smokers than current smokers.ConclusionsTobacco smoking patients with NSCLC generally have a higher PD-L1 tumour proportion score and experience a better ORR of immunotherapy than no smokers. There is little evidence on the effect of smoking during immunotherapy, but one study (KEYNOTE-024) may indicate survival gains of smoking cessation.