Adherence to TKI regimen very high among NSCLC patients

Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLS) patients show exceptionally high adherence to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), results of a recent study have shown. This supports the effectiveness of TKI therapy and a good quality of life over a long period of time.

“Adherence facilitating information and education is especially relevant for patients taking TKIs in a twice-daily regimen,” the investigators said.

Medication adherence was measured using the medication event monitoring system (MEMS) over at least 6 months. Adherence rates were calculated according to dosing compliance, timing compliance, taking compliance, and drug holidays.

The investigators dichotomized patients as adherent when dosing compliance and timing compliance was ≥80 percent, taking compliance ranged between 90 percent and 110 percent, and less than one drug holiday was registered. They assessed quality of life using two questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 version 3.0, EORTC QLQ-LC13) at three time points. Patient diaries were used to report adverse events.

Thirty-two patients were enrolled, of whom 23 had available data. Median dosing compliance, taking compliance, and timing compliance adherence rates of TKI intake were 100 percent, 98 percent, and 99 percent, respectively. Three patients observed drug holidays. However, four patients were deemed nonadherent, three of whom had a twice-daily TKI regimen.

Median quality of life score was 67 (max. 100), which remained unchanged over the study period. In addition, the most common treatment-related adverse events were rash and fatigue.

“Cancer patients tend to prefer oral instead of parenteral chemotherapy,” the investigators noted.