Investigating Inequalities in Utilisation of Targeted Therapies
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating Inequalities in Utilisation of Targeted Therapies
IRAS ID
266435
Contact name
Linda Sharp
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background: New targeted therapies offer cancer patients opportunity for personalised treatment, specific to mutations within their cancer. It is known that with other cancer treatment options e.g. surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy that access varies with socio-economic status (education, employment, income, area level deprivation). This project will investigate the prescribing of new targeted therapies to find out if similar patterns are observed in their access too. This is important as these new medicines may provide increased response rates, reduced toxicity and improved survival (compared to standard treatments). Hence drug access should not be subject to disparities.
Aims: This project will investigate (1) the percentage of patients (breast and lung cancers) receiving a targeted therapy as part of their treatment; (2) the role of deprivation category and age on (a) hormone receptor testing in breast cancer and (b) receipt of targeted therapy in breast or lung cancer; and (3) any associations between drug receipt and survival.
Methods: The project will use data held by Public Health England, specifically in the National Cancer Registration Database and in other datasets linked to it. These databases record information on hormone receptor testing and targeted therapy prescribing. All invasive primary breast and lung cancers diagnosed between 2012 – 2018 are the focus. Data relating to targeted therapies will be compared by deprivation, age and associated survival. Analysis will detail the percentage of patients receiving a targeted therapy and hormone receptor tests (breast cancer). Multivariable models will calculate the odds of receiving hormone receptor tests and targeted treatments by age - group and deprivation category. Cox modelling will be used to investigate associations between targeted therapy receipt and survival.
Dissemination: The project results will be reported in RN’s thesis, as well as at cancer conferences and with publication in peer reviewed journals.
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/WM/0317
Date of REC Opinion
16 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion