The Next Horizon of Drug Development: External Control Arms and Innovative Tools to Enrich Clinical Trial Data.

Conducting clinical trials (CTs) has become increasingly costly and complex in terms of designing and operationalizing. These challenges exist in running CTs on novel therapies, particularly in oncology and rare diseases, where CTs increasingly target narrower patient groups. In this study, we describe external control arms (ECA) and other relevant tools, such as virtualization and decentralized clinical trials (DCTs), and the ability to follow the clinical trial subjects in the real world using tokenization. ECAs are typically constructed by identifying appropriate external sources of data, then by cleaning and standardizing it to create an analysis-ready data file, and finally, by matching subjects in the external data with the subjects in the CT of interest. In addition, ECA tools also include subject-level meta-analysis and simulated subjects' data for analyses. By implementing the recent advances in digital health technologies and devices, virtualization, and DCTs, realigning of CTs from site-centric designs to virtual, decentralized, and patient-centric designs can be done, which reduces the patient burden to participate in the CTs and encourages diversity. Tokenization technology allows linking the CT data with real-world data (RWD), creating more comprehensive and longitudinal outcome measures. These tools provide robust ways to enrich the CT data for informed decision-making, reduce the burden on subjects and costs of trial operations, and augment the insights gained for the CT data.

Treatment approaches for older and oldest patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma - Use of non-R-CHOP alternative therapies and impact of comorbidities on treatment choices and outcome: A Humedica database retrospective cohort analysis, 2007-2015.

INTRODUCTION: We characterized real-world treatment patterns in older (65-74 years) and oldest (75-85 years) patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) receiving initial therapy (R-CHOP, non-R-CHOP regimens). Impact of comorbidities on treatment choice, and overall and progression-free survival (OS, PFS) were assessed by age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the Humedica database, we identified 1436 newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL who received frontline therapy from 1/07-9/15. The 885 patients ≥65 years of age were further evaluated for baseline demographics, comorbidities, initial therapy, and PFS/OS. RESULTS: Of 885 patients, 406 (45.9%) were age 65-74, and 479 (54.1%) age 75-85, years. First line therapy was R-CHOP (61.8%) or non-R-CHOP (38.2%). Although Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores were similar at baseline, congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction were more common in those receiving non-R-CHOP regimens. Survival outcomes were superior for those receiving initial R-CHOP, versus non-R-CHOP, therapy (median PFS 53.9 versus 27.8 months; two-year PFS 71.2% versus 51.6%, p < .0001; median OS not reached versus 45 months; two-year OS 81.3% versus 62.9%, p < .0001, respectively). Only 10.4% (R-CHOP) and 12.1% (non-R-CHOP) of patients received second line therapies. Two-year OS by age (65-74, 75-85 years) was 66.4% and 39.1%, respectively with R-CHOP (p = .0045), and 74.3% and 54.5%, respectively with non-R-CHOP (p = .004), therapy. Age ≥ 75 years and CCI of 2+ were associated with shorter OS and PFS. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified real-world first line treatment patterns for older patients with DLBCL. Our findings support the feasibility of administering standard R-CHOP therapy, even to oldest patients with DLBCL.

A pragmatic patient-reported outcome strategy for rare disease clinical trials: application of the EORTC item library to myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Novel, pragmatic, patient-centered strategies are needed to ensure fit-for-purpose patient-reported outcomes (PRO) instruments in clinical trial research for rare diseases such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). The objective of the current study was to select supplemental items to add to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) to ensure content coverage of all important clinical concepts in patients with higher-risk (HR) MDS, low-blast count (LB) AML, and CMML, thus, improving the instrument's ability to detect clinically meaningful treatment benefit for this context of use. METHODS: Our mixed methods approach comprised literature review, clinician consultation (n = 3), and qualitative and quantitative analysis of two stages of patient interview data (n = 14, n = 18) to select library bank items to supplement a generic cancer PRO, the EORTC QLQ-C30. RESULTS: Unique symptom (n = 54) and impact (n = 72) concepts were organized into conceptual frameworks of treatment benefit, compared with EORTC QLQ-C30 items and conceptual gaps identified. Supplemental items (n = 13) addressing those gaps were selected from the EORTC Item Library and tested with patients. Supplemental item endorsement frequencies met World Health Organization Quality of Life criteria, suggesting good targeting and relevance for this sample. However, three supplemental items were confirmed as problematic based upon cognitive debriefing results, and expert clinical consultations. Ultimately, 10 supplemental items (n = 7 symptom; n = 3 impact) were selected for the MDS/AML/CMML context. CONCLUSION: Supplemental items were selected to enhance the conceptual coverage of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in the areas of fatigue, shortness of breath, and functioning.

Meta-analytical methods for estimating outcomes from overall response rate in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is highly heterogeneous and current trials are investigating new approaches to improve outcomes. Limited data on response endpoints can confound estimation of a treatment effect when designing studies of novel agents in this setting, which can hinder study sample size calculations, especially if a net estimate is required for a 'physician's choice' comparator arm. Here we estimate complete response rate (CRR), overall response rate (ORR), and extrapolate durable response rates (DRR; CR/partial response lasting ≥16 weeks) for such a comparator arm from published ORRs in DLBCL. CRR, ORR, and DRR (if reported) were obtained from published clinical trials for approved single-agent therapies in patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma after ≥2 prior therapies. Meta-analyses were performed to estimate CRR, ORR, and DRR based on ORR data reported from these studies. Published data from studies of eight monotherapies were included. Meta-analyses using fixed and random effects models showed a pooled estimate for a CRR of 12% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9-15) and 11% (95% CI: 8-15), respectively, an ORR of 30% (95% CI: 25-35) and 30% (95% CI: 24-36), respectively, and a DRR of 14% (95% CI: 11-18; same for fixed and random effects models). Bayesian meta-analysis estimated a pooled DRR of 14% (95% credible interval: 11-19). CRR estimates for a physician's choice comparator arm in patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL were 11-12%; DRR estimates were 14% regardless of methodology. Lack of consistency in reported data and choice of endpoints can be addressed using meta-analytic approaches.

Economic burden and treatment patterns for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma in the USA.

AIM: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) are common types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and real-world evidence continues to be lacking for healthcare costs and utilization among DLBCL and FL patients. Our study aims to describe medical and pharmacy costs and health resource utilization and to characterize longitudinal treatment patterns among these patients. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed among adult patients with DLBCL or FL using the US MarketScan (Truven) administrative claims data from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2015. Diagnoses of DLBCL and FL were based upon ICD-9 codes. Identifications of treatment lines involved 30 lymphoma-specific anticancer systemic agents. Direct healthcare costs and utilizations were computed in the 1-year postdiagnosis period. Generalized linear models with a gamma link were used to compare healthcare costs between therapies with and without rituximab. RESULTS: A total of 2767 DLBCL and 5989 FL patients received frontline therapy. The majority received treatment within 3 months after initial diagnosis (DLBCL 79.9% and FL 62.4%) and were treated with rituximab or bendamustine either alone or in combination (DLBCL 67.4% and FL 84.7%). The total healthcare costs were US $15,555 and $10,192 per patient per month within 1 year following their initial diagnosis for DLBCL and FL, respectively. The medical costs were nearly twice as much as the drug costs for DLBCL patients. Both DLBCL and FL patients receiving rituximab had higher pharmacy costs but lower medical costs (p < 0.001). During the first year following initial diagnosis, the resource utilization (per patient per month) of DLBCL patients included 0.21 inpatient admissions, 0.26 radiation therapy, 2.63 outpatient or office visits, 0.18 emergency room visits, 0.06 intensive care unit admissions and 0.10 stem cell transplantation. FL patients occupied less health resources than DLBCL patients. CONCLUSION: The healthcare costs and health resources utilized were considerable in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, especially DLBCL patients.

Predicting Outcomes in Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treated With Standard of Care.

In diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), predictive modeling may contribute to targeted drug development by enrichment of the study populations enrolled in clinical trials of DLBCL investigational drugs to include patients with lower likelihood of responding to standard of care. In clinical practice, predictive modeling has the potential to optimize therapy choices in DLBCL. The objectives of this study were to create a model for predicting health outcomes in patients with DLBCL treated with standard of care and determine informative predictors of health outcomes for patients with DLBCL. This was a retrospective observational study using data extracted from the IMS Health Database between September 2007 and April 2015. Patients were ⩾18 years of age with a DLBCL diagnosis. The index date was the date of the first DLBCL diagnosis. Patients were followed until outcome occurrence, defined as progression to a later line of therapy after ⩾60 days from the end of a previous therapy or stem cell transplantation. Patients were categorized into three cohorts depending on the post-index observation period: ⩽1 year, ⩽3 years, or ⩽5 years. Lasso logistic regression (LASSO), Naive Bayes, gradient-boosting machine (GBM), random forest (RF), and neural network models were performed for each cohort. The best-performing algorithms were predictive models based on GBM and observation periods ⩽1 and ⩽3 years after index date. Informative predictors included myocardial imaging, DLBCL stage IV, bronchiolar and renal disease, a chemotherapy regimen, and exposure to diphenhydramine and vasoprotectives on or before the first DLBCL diagnosis. These predictive models may be applied to targeted drug development and have the potential to optimize therapy choices in DLBCL. They were generated efficiently using a large number of independent variables readily available in standard insurance claims or electronic health record data systems.

A retrospective study evaluating treatment patterns and survival outcomes in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated in the United States with either 7+3 or a hypomethylating agent.

Intensive treatment for newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia (ND-AML) patients are reserved for "fit" patients. While guidelines recommend evaluation of age, performance status and comorbidities, there is no consensus on the definition of "fitness" or optimal therapy for elderly AML patients. This retrospective study evaluated characteristics and survival outcomes of 274 patients (age ≥60 years) with ND-AML treated with 7 + 3 (cytarabine + an anthracycline) vs. hypomethylating agents (HMAs). Most patients received 7 + 3 (60.2%) vs. HMAs (39.8%) in first-line therapy (1 L T); more HMA patients were ≥75 years old and had more comorbidities. Median progression-free survival (PFS) following 1 L T was longer for patients who received 7 + 3 vs. HMAs (6.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 4.9, 11.1) vs. 4.1 months (95% CI: 2.8, 4.9, respectively). Median overall survival (OS) following 1 L T was also longer for patients who received 7 + 3 vs. HMAs (14.7 months [95% CI: 11.0, not estimated] vs. 4.3 months [95% CI: 3.2, 5.8], respectively). An age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index score of ≥4 vs. < 4 negatively affected PFS and OS irrespective of treatment. Overall, choosing an HMA over 7 + 3 in elderly patients with ND-AML may be influenced by age and comorbidities; patients receiving 7 + 3 had longer survival than those on an HMA.

Evaluation of treatment patterns and survival among patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the USA.

AIM: To evaluate treatment patterns of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). PATIENTS & METHODS: First-line and relapsed/refractory treatment patterns and survival outcomes following first-line therapy in adult patients newly diagnosed with DLBCL were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 1436 DLBCL patients initiated treatment and mainly received a combination regimen versus monotherapy (92.1 vs 7.9%). Patients who received monotherapy were older with more comorbidities and had shorter progression-free survival than patients receiving combination therapy (median: 31.3 vs 55.8 months). In the second-line setting (n = 164), rituximab-based combination regimens were most common; 25% underwent stem cell transplantation, and were younger with fewer comorbidities. CONCLUSION: These results illustrate the need for new treatment options for patients unable to tolerate initial combination therapy and transplant-ineligible patients who require salvage therapy.

Treatment Patterns and Survival Outcomes in Patients With Follicular Lymphoma: A 2007 to 2015 Humedica Database Study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated real-world treatment patterns and survival in follicular lymphoma (FL). This study evaluated these outcomes among newly diagnosed patients with FL in routine clinical care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in newly diagnosed patients with FL from Humedica, a large United States electronic medical record database, from January 1, 2008 to July 31, 2015. Patients were followed from treatment initiation until death, loss to follow-up, or end of study (September 30, 2015). Treatment patterns were assessed in the follow-up period. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) at 2 years were evaluated in the overall population using Kaplan-Meier analyses. OS was also compared between patients with and without evidence of disease progression within 2 years following first-line therapy (ie, early progressors vs. non-early progressors). RESULTS: A total of 1346 patients were included in the study, with most patients receiving rituximab-based regimens. Fewer early progressors received rituximab-based regimens. Across all lines, combination therapies predominated, particularly bendamustine + rituximab. Following first-line therapy, OS was 86.9% at 2 years, and median OS was not reached. Two-year PFS after first-line therapy was 64.6%, and median PFS was 48.1 months (95% confidence interval, 39.4-58.4 months). OS at 2 years was 76.8% among early progressors versus 90.4% among non-early progressors (P < .001); the median OS was not reached in both groups. CONCLUSION: In routine clinical practice, rituximab-based regimens predominated; however, utilization of these regimens differed among early and non-early progressors. The assessment of survival outcomes also highlights the negative impact of early progression on OS in the rituximab-era.

Economic Burden of Patients Treated for Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (HR-MDS) in Routine Clinical Care in the United States.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Significant clinical burden is associated with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS); however, the economic burden has not been fully examined. We examined cost of care and healthcare utilization (HCU) in HR-MDS patients engaged in routine care in the United States (US). METHODS: Adult US patients diagnosed with HR-MDS from 1/1/2008 to 10/31/2015 were identified from the Optum database. Patients were followed until death, progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), end of enrollment, or end of study (12/31/2015). Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-related costs/HCU (including medical/pharmacy claims with a primary diagnosis of MDS, MDS-related treatment, or supportive care) and non-MDS-related costs/HCU were evaluated. Costs were calculated as per-patient per-month (PPPM) costs adjusted to 2015 US dollars. RESULTS: Of the 209 HR-MDS patients included, median follow-up was 9.9 months (interquartile range 4.6-17.9), and 69.4% had at least one inpatient admission, 56.9% had at least one emergency department visit, and nearly all patients had at least one outpatient visit. Average PPPM costs over follow-up were $17,361; year 1 versus year 2 costs were higher ($17,337 vs $12,976) following HR-MDS diagnosis. The majority of costs were for MDS-related medical services ($10,327 PPPM). MDS-related medical PPPM costs decreased from $10,557 (year 1) to $6530 (year 2). The main drivers of MDS-related medical costs and the decrease in year 2 were chemotherapy and supportive care costs. CONCLUSIONS: The economic burden of HR-MDS is considerable, particularly within the first year of diagnosis. Treatment/supportive care costs accounted for a significant portion of MDS-related costs. As HR-MDS treatment evolves, the economic impact and HCU need to be further investigated.

Gastrointestinal complications in patients treated with ipilimumab and nivolumab combination therapy or monotherapy.

Aim & methods: A retrospective study using the IBM Explorys Universe Database assessed the risk of gastrointestinal events (enterocolitis or diarrhea) among melanoma and lung cancer patients treated with ipilimumab and nivolumab combination or monotherapy. Results & conclusion: There were 904 melanoma patients (607 ipilimumab, 140 nivolumab and 157 combo) and 1641 lung cancer patients (68 ipilimumab, 1542 nivolumab and 31 combo). Approximately, 37% of lung patients and 46% of melanoma patients experienced at least one adverse event. After adjusting for covariates, patients receiving combination therapy were more likely to have a gastrointestinal event compared with ipilimumab monotherapy patients (melanoma hazard ratio: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.06-2.25; lung hazard ratio: 2.93; 95% CI: 1.09-7.89).

Transfusion-free interval is associated with improved survival in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes engaged in routine care.

Most higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR-MDS) patients will become transfusion-dependent, leading to potential complications, including infections or end-organ dysfunction. Data correlating achievement of transfusion-free intervals (TFIs) during first-line therapy (1LT) with survival are sparse. We evaluated HR-MDS patients receiving 1LT diagnosed from 1/1/2008 to 7/31/2015 and the impact of a TFI (≥60-day interval without transfusions) on progression-free and overall survival (PFS, OS) using Cox proportional-hazard models. Two hundred and twenty-nine HR-MDS patients received 1LT; overall, median PFS/OS were 8.4 months and 14.7 months, respectively. Two-year PFS/OS were 22.3% and 34.6%, respectively. Median PFS/OS were longer for patients with vs. without a TFI (16.9 vs. 6.1 months and 26.1 vs. 11.8 months, respectively; p < .01 [both]). Two-year PFS (43.0% vs. 3.9%; p < .01) and 2-year OS (51.8% vs. 22.5%; p < .01) were also longer in patients with a TFI vs. not. Achievement of a TFI during 1LT appears to positively affect PFS and OS in HR-MDS patients.

Gastrointestinal adverse events with combination of checkpoint inhibitors in advanced melanoma: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors (CIs) such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors, are revolutionizing the treatment of advanced melanoma. Combining CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibitors provides additional clinical benefit compared with single agents alone. However, combination therapy can increase the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events (GI AEs). This systematic review assessed the epidemiological, clinical, economic, and humanistic burden of GI AEs due to combination CIs in advanced melanoma. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched (December 2011 to December 2016) to identify primary studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and conference proceedings (2014-2016) evaluating adults treated with ≥2 CIs for advanced melanoma. RESULTS: Of the 3391 identified articles, 14 were included. Most studies examined the ipilimumab plus nivolumab combination. Any grade and grade 3-4 GI AEs occurred in more patients receiving ipilimumab plus nivolumab versus ipilimumab or nivolumab alone. The most common grade 3-4 GI AEs were diarrhea and colitis. Grade 3-4 colitis occurred in more patients receiving ipilimumab plus nivolumab. However, grade 3-4 diarrhea occurred at the same rate as ipilimumab alone. GI AEs developed with ipilimumab plus nivolumab approximately 6.6 weeks after initiating treatment. No studies assessing the economic or humanistic burden of GI AEs were identified. CONCLUSION: GI AEs occurred at a higher rate and greater severity in patients treated with ipilimumab plus nivolumab versus ipilimumab or nivolumab monotherapy. The lack of research on economic and humanistic burden of GI AEs with combination CIs for advanced melanoma represents an unmet need in the literature and should be explored in future studies.

Systematic review of therapy used in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma.

To identify real-world evidence on outcomes from therapies for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL), we systematically reviewed literature in Medline/Embase for DLBCL/FL-related articles on real-world results published during January 2012-May 2016. Among 33 included articles, therapies included stem cell transplant (SCT) and chemotherapy, including experimental regimens. The highest overall survival rates were observed for SCT, long considered an optimal strategy following initial relapse. Prognoses were inferior among DLBCL patients receiving rituximab-based regimens rather than SCT, particularly among studies that exclusively focused on those ineligible for SCT due to age or co-morbidity. A lack of viable treatment options for DLBCL/FL patients ineligible for SCT after relapse remains a significant gap in care.

Economic burden of patients with diffuse large B-cell and follicular lymphoma treated in the USA.

AIM: Evaluate healthcare costs and utilization of treated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) patients. MATERIALS & METHODS: Adults with newly diagnosed DLBCL and FL between 1 January 2008 and 31 October 2015 were identified in the Optum™ claims database. Healthcare costs and utilization were assessed from diagnosis date until end of follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 1267 DLBCL- and 1595 FL-treated patients were identified. Mean per-patient, per-month cost during follow-up was US$11,890 for DLBCL and US$10,460 for FL. Healthcare costs and utilization decreased from year 1 to 2 following diagnosis, due to a decrease in chemotherapy services, inpatient admissions and other outpatient services. CONCLUSION: The economic burden of treated DLBCL and FL is considerable, especially in the first year following diagnosis.

Economic burden of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated in routine clinical care in the United States.

This retrospective claims database study examined healthcare utilization (HCU) and costs associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 237 elderly patients who received chemotherapy or a stem cell transplant (SCT) following AML diagnosis. Patients with secondary AML were excluded. Over the entire follow-up period, 92.0% of patients had ≥1 inpatient admission; 85.7% had ≥1 AML-related admission, and 42.6% had ≥1 non-AML-related admission. During inpatient admissions, 39.2% of patients had ≥1 intensive care unit (ICU) admission, with 20.7% having ≥1 AML-related ICU admission, and 27.8% having ≥1 non-AML-related ICU admission. Total mean per-patient per-month (PPPM) costs over the follow-up period were $25,243 (SD: $21,909), with costs from Year 1 ($27,756 [SD: $22,121]) more than double those in Year 2 ($12,953 [SD: $26,334]) following AML diagnosis. The majority of total costs were medical ($24,512 PPPM [SD: $21,704]), which included inpatient admissions ($6548 PPPM [SD: $10,777]), other outpatient visits ($5021 PPPM [SD: $7997]), supportive care ($3640 PPPM [SD: $5589], and chemotherapy administration ($2029 PPPM [SD: $2345]). Healthcare costs of treated elderly AML patients are substantial, particularly in the first year following diagnosis. Further research is needed to understand factors contributing to high costs in various settings of care for elderly AML patients.

Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutic Regimens for Elderly Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Systematic Literature Review.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the second most common leukemia among adults. Although the median age at diagnosis is 67 years, with approximately one third of patients aged 75 years or older, limited treatment options exist for the elderly, who have 5-year survival rates of only 5%. A systematic review was conducted to examine effectiveness and safety outcomes of treatment regimens in elderly (≥60 years old) patients with AML. Published literature on the topic was scant, and the review included only 22 articles examining outcomes. Twelve studies examined treatment-specific outcomes; most of these examined azacitidine or intensive chemotherapy (IC). An international randomized controlled trial found that azacitidine significantly improved overall survival relative to conventional regimens including IC and low-dose cytarabine in patients aged > 65 years. Similar results in favor of azacitidine were demonstrated in 2 other studies. IC was generally associated with longer survival versus lower-intensity therapy or best supportive care. Findings suggest that azacitidine is a viable option for elderly AML patients who are ineligible for IC, and emerging agents used in combination with azacitidine could have a major impact in this difficult-to-treat population.

Systematic Literature Review of Treatment Options and Clinical Outcomes for Patients With Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia.

High-dose chemotherapy with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) can produce long-term remission in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). However, this treatment regimen is not appropriate for elderly and/or comorbid patients; in these cases, azacitidine is a standard treatment. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate real-world evidence of treatment options for patients with HR-MDS/CMML. Medline and Embase (January 2006 to May 2016) were searched, in addition to conference proceedings and treatment guideline reviews. Studies on clinical effectiveness/efficacy outcomes with a sample size ≥50 patients were included. From 1061 unique citations identified, 87 full-text articles were reviewed, of which 24 articles reported at least 1 outcome of interest. Studies showed that HR-MDS/CMML patients treated with a conventional chemotherapy regimen (CCR) have poorer overall survival (OS). Key findings from individual HR-MDS studies showed improved survival with azacitidine over CCRs and higher overall response rates with clofarabine relative to low-dose cytosine arabinoside (but no significant difference in 2-year OS favoring clofarabine). OS was highest for patients treated with allo-HSCT. Findings indicate limited real-world data on treatment strategies available for HR-MDS/CMML patients. Most studies address the effect of chemotherapy or allo-HSCT on clinical outcomes, so are not applicable to elderly/comorbid patients who are too frail for those treatments. In particular, our analysis revealed limited evidence on viable options after failure of treatment with azacitidine, identifying a significant unmet need in this patient population.

Utilization of Positive and Negative Controls to Examine Comorbid Associations in Observational Database Studies.

BACKGROUND: Opportunities to leverage observational data for precision medicine research are hampered by underlying sources of bias and paucity of methods to handle resulting uncertainty. We outline an approach to account for bias in identifying comorbid associations between 2 rare genetic disorders and type 2 diabetes (T2D) by applying a positive and negative control disease paradigm. RESEARCH DESIGN: Association between 10 common and 2 rare genetic disorders [Hereditary Fructose Intolerance (HFI) and α-1 antitrypsin deficiency] and T2D was compared with the association between T2D and 7 negative control diseases with no established relationship with T2D in 4 observational databases. Negative controls were used to estimate how much bias and variance existed in datasets when no effect should be observed. RESULTS: Unadjusted association for common and rare genetic disorders and T2D was positive and variable in magnitude and distribution in all 4 databases. However, association between negative controls and T2D was 200% greater than expected indicating the magnitude and confidence intervals for comorbid associations are sensitive to systematic bias. A meta-analysis using this method demonstrated a significant association between HFI and T2D but not for α-1 antitrypsin deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: For observational studies, when covariate data are limited or ambiguous, positive and negative controls provide a method to account for the broadest level of systematic bias, heterogeneity, and uncertainty. This provides greater confidence in assessing associations between diseases and comorbidities. Using this approach we were able to demonstrate an association between HFI and T2D. Leveraging real-world databases is a promising approach to identify and corroborate potential targets for precision medicine therapies.

Relationship between age and erectile dysfunction diagnosis or treatment using real-world observational data in the USA.

AIMS: With self-reporting of erectile dysfunction (ED) in population-based surveys, men with ED may not represent men who are bothered sufficiently to seek an ED diagnosis and treatment. We used real-world observational data to assess: 1) the prevalence of ED diagnosis or treatment by age subgroups; and 2) the relationship of age with ED diagnosis or treatment after controlling for ED-related comorbidities in the USA. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used de-identified claims data (MarketScan® databases; primary analysis). Sensitivity analysis was conducted using electronic health records (Humedica® database). Inclusion criteria were men aged ≥18 years with a 360-day continuous enrollment before the index date. We assessed the prevalence of ED diagnosis or phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5I) prescription by age and the risk for ED diagnosis or treatment by age after controlling for comorbidities (hypertension, other cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, depression and benign prostatic hyperplasia). RESULTS: Of 19,833,939 men meeting inclusion criteria in the primary analysis, only 1 108 842 (5.6%) had an ED diagnosis or PDE5I prescription (mean [SD] age: 55.2 [11.2] years). Prevalence of ED diagnosis or treatment increased from age 18-29 years (0.4%) to 60-69 years (11.5%), then decreased in the seventh (11.0%), eighth (4.6%), and ninth (0.9%) decades. Men with ED diagnosis or treatment had a higher prevalence of any comorbidity (63.1% vs 29.3% for men without ED) and of each comorbid condition. In multivariate analyses, age was an independent risk factor for ED diagnosis or treatment. Sensitivity analysis provided consistent results. CONCLUSIONS: In a real-world setting in the USA, the prevalence of ED diagnosis or PDE5I treatment is generally low, increases with age, decreases in very old men, and is associated with increased prevalence of comorbidities. Age is an independent risk factor for ED diagnosis or treatment after controlling for comorbidities.