NICE is to publish final guidance that recommends the use of topotecan as a second line treatment for relapsed lung cancer.
The final guidance on use of topotecan recommends the oral form of the drug as an option for people with relapsed small-cell lung cancer for whom retreatment with their previous medication is not considered suitable and who cannot take the combination of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and vincristine (CAV).
Dr Carole Longson, Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director at NICE, said: “Under the arrangements introduced by NICE for appraising life-extending, end-of-life treatments, the independent Appraisal Committee has concluded that oral topotecan should be recommended for use.
“Without treatment, small-cell lung cancer has an aggressive clinical course leaving patients with a life expectancy of approximately 3.5 months for limited-stage disease and 6 weeks for extensive-stage disease. We are pleased to be able to recommend topotecan as an alternative treatment for relapsed lung cancer patients who cannot receive CAV.”
The guidance does not recommend intravenous topotecan for people with relapsed small-cell lung cancer.
This final guidance brings the total number of cancer drugs appraised by NICE to 79, of which 59 (75%) have recommended the use of the drug.