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

ndomized crossover study in patients with neuroendocrine tumors to assess patient preference for lanreotide Autogel given by either self/partner or a health care professional Original Research (1319) Total Article Views Authors: Johanson V, Wilson B, Abrahamsson A, Jianu C, Calissendorff J, Wall N, Gr nb k H, Florholmen J, hberg A, Granberg D Published Date October 2012 Volume 2012:6 Pages 703 - 710 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S34337 Received: 28 May 2012 Accepted: 10 August 2012 Published: 17 October 2012 Viktor Johanson,1 Benedicte Wilson,2 Anna Abrahamsson,3 Constantin Jianu,4 Jan Calissendorff,5 Najme Wall,6 Henning Gr nb k,7 Jon Florholmen,8 Anders hberg,9 Dan Granberg10 1Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, G teborg, 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, Link ping University Hospital, Link ping, Sweden; 7Department of Medicine V, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; 8Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, University Hospital of North Norway, Troms , Norway; 9Medical Department, Ipsen AB, Stockholm, Sweden; 10Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Endocrine Oncology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden Background: 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 patie