High-Risk CLL Linked to Poorer Clinical, Economic Outcomes

The rate of cytogenetic/molecular testing in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in a US managed care population increased from 30% to 44% between 2007 and 2019, according to study results published in Current Medical Research and Opinion.

Nevertheless, researchers advised that the “assessment of genetic risk remains suboptimal” in patients with CLL.

The retrospective cohort study included 1808 patients with CLL who initiated first-line treatment with chemoimmunotherapy between January 1, 2007, and July 31, 2019. Among them, 612 underwent prognostic testing to classify them as high risk or as non-high risk by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or IGHV testing.

Among the results, the study found that 119 patients who tested high-risk had 65% higher risk of next treatment or death and a 65% higher risk of treatment failure compared with 134 patients considered non-high risk.

Additionally, patients at high-risk had 33% higher costs during first-line chemotherapy than patients not at high risk. Total plan paid costs (medical and pharmacy) per patient per month were $12,194 for patients at high risk compared with $9055 for non-high risk patients.

“High-risk CLL patients treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy have poorer clinical and economic outcomes compared to non-high risk patients,” researchers concluded.

Janssen Scientific Affairs funded the study.

Reference:
Leslie LA, Gangan N, Tan H, Huang Q. Clinical and economic burden of first-line chemoimmunotherapy by risk status in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Curr Med Res Opin. Published online October 22, 2022. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2022.2133468