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mitoxantrone plus <strong>prednisone</strong> <strong>with</strong> docetaxel plus<br />

estramustine, and one trial that compared<br />

mitoxantrone plus <strong>prednisone</strong> <strong>with</strong> mitoxantrone<br />

plus <strong>prednisone</strong> plus clodronate. Both <strong>treatment</strong>s<br />

that included docetaxel were superi<strong>or</strong> to<br />

mitoxantrone plus <strong>prednisone</strong> in terms <strong>of</strong> overall<br />

survival (although <strong>the</strong> difference was not<br />

statistically significant f<strong>or</strong> docetaxel plus<br />

<strong>prednisone</strong> plus estramustine), response rate<br />

(although <strong>the</strong> difference was not statistically<br />

significant f<strong>or</strong> docetaxel plus estramustine) and<br />

progression-free survival (although this was only<br />

assessed f<strong>or</strong> docetaxel plus estramustine in<br />

comparison <strong>with</strong> mitoxantrone plus <strong>prednisone</strong>).<br />

<strong>Docetaxel</strong> plus estramustine was associated <strong>with</strong><br />

m<strong>or</strong>e adverse events compared <strong>with</strong> mitoxantrone<br />

plus <strong>prednisone</strong>. No significant differences were<br />

found between mitoxantrone plus <strong>prednisone</strong> plus<br />

clodronate and mitoxantrone plus <strong>prednisone</strong><br />

<strong>with</strong>out clodronate.<br />

In addition, we found three trials that compared<br />

mitoxantrone plus a c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroid <strong>with</strong> best<br />

supp<strong>or</strong>tive care, using c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroids. Two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se<br />

used <strong>prednisone</strong> (5 mg twice daily) as <strong>the</strong><br />

comparat<strong>or</strong> and one compared mitoxantrone plus<br />

hydroc<strong>or</strong>tisone <strong>with</strong> hydroc<strong>or</strong>tisone (40 mg given<br />

in two divided doses daily). One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> trials<br />

included men <strong>with</strong> asymptomatic mHRPC,<br />

ano<strong>the</strong>r included men <strong>with</strong> symptomatic mHRPC,<br />

<strong>with</strong> symptoms including pain and disease<br />

progression and <strong>the</strong> third included all men <strong>with</strong><br />

progressive mHRPC. One trial allowed patients to<br />

cross over during <strong>the</strong> trial, which resulted in 50<br />

out <strong>of</strong> 81 patients randomised to <strong>prednisone</strong><br />

receiving additional mitoxantrone; <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r two<br />

trials did not allow crossovers.<br />

The combined result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se three trials showed<br />

very little difference between mitoxantrone plus<br />

c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroids compared <strong>with</strong> c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroids<br />

alone in terms <strong>of</strong> overall survival [HR = 0.99 (95%<br />

CI: 0.82 to 1.20)]. O<strong>the</strong>r outcomes could not be<br />

pooled because <strong>the</strong>y were measured differently in<br />

<strong>the</strong> three trials. However, in <strong>the</strong> two studies that<br />

measured health-related quality <strong>of</strong> life and pain<br />

responses, <strong>the</strong> mitoxantrone groups had<br />

statistically significant improvements compared<br />

<strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroid groups. High losses to<br />

follow-up f<strong>or</strong> <strong>the</strong>se outcomes dictate that <strong>the</strong>se<br />

results should be interpreted cautiously.<br />

An adjusted indirect comparison was perf<strong>or</strong>med to<br />

estimate <strong>the</strong> relative efficacy <strong>of</strong> docetaxel plus<br />

<strong>prednisone</strong> versus c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroids. The results <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> indirect comparison showed that docetaxel<br />

plus <strong>prednisone</strong> seems to be superi<strong>or</strong> to<br />

© Queen’s Printer and Controller <strong>of</strong> HMSO 2007. All rights reserved.<br />

Health Technology Assessment 2007; Vol. 11: No. 2<br />

<strong>prednisone</strong> alone in terms <strong>of</strong> overall survival.<br />

However, this is based on an indirect comparison<br />

using one good-quality trial comparing docetaxel<br />

plus <strong>prednisone</strong> <strong>with</strong> mitoxantrone plus<br />

<strong>prednisone</strong> (TAX 327) and three trials comparing<br />

mitoxantrone plus c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroids <strong>with</strong><br />

c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroids, that differed in terms <strong>of</strong> patient<br />

population and methodology.<br />

In summary, a direct comparison <strong>of</strong> docetaxel plus<br />

<strong>prednisone</strong> versus mitoxantrone plus <strong>prednisone</strong><br />

in an open-label randomised trial showed<br />

improved outcomes f<strong>or</strong> docetaxel plus <strong>prednisone</strong>.<br />

Two o<strong>the</strong>r chemo<strong>the</strong>rapy regimens that included<br />

docetaxel: docetaxel plus estramustine and<br />

docetaxel plus <strong>prednisone</strong> plus estramustine, also<br />

showed improved outcomes in comparison <strong>with</strong><br />

mitoxantrone plus <strong>prednisone</strong>. Three trials that<br />

compared mitoxantrone plus a c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroid <strong>with</strong> a<br />

c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroid alone were identified and <strong>the</strong>ir results<br />

f<strong>or</strong> overall survival were combined, which showed<br />

very little difference between <strong>the</strong> two groups.<br />

Mitoxantrone plus <strong>prednisone</strong> plus clodronate<br />

showed no significant differences in comparison<br />

<strong>with</strong> mitoxantrone plus <strong>prednisone</strong>. Our review <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> data suggests that docetaxel plus <strong>prednisone</strong> is<br />

<strong>the</strong> most effective <strong>treatment</strong> f<strong>or</strong> men <strong>with</strong> mHRPC.<br />

Cost-effectiveness<br />

The systematic literature search identified only<br />

one study which met <strong>the</strong> criteria f<strong>or</strong> inclusion in<br />

<strong>the</strong> cost-effectiveness review. A separate costeffectiveness<br />

analysis was also submitted by <strong>the</strong><br />

manufacturer (San<strong>of</strong>i-Aventis).<br />

Of <strong>the</strong> cost-effectiveness evidence reviewed, only<br />

<strong>the</strong> manufacturer’s submission was considered<br />

directly relevant from <strong>the</strong> perspective <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> NHS.<br />

The review <strong>of</strong> this evidence highlighted potential<br />

limitations <strong>with</strong>in <strong>the</strong> submission in its use <strong>of</strong> data,<br />

<strong>the</strong> range <strong>of</strong> comparat<strong>or</strong>s considered and <strong>the</strong> lack<br />

<strong>of</strong> quality adjustment in <strong>the</strong> final outcome. These<br />

limitations led to <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> a new model<br />

<strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> aim <strong>of</strong> providing a m<strong>or</strong>e comprehensive<br />

range <strong>of</strong> comparat<strong>or</strong>s (including a comparison<br />

<strong>with</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r chemo<strong>the</strong>rapy regimens and<br />

<strong>prednisone</strong>/<strong>prednisolone</strong> alone) f<strong>or</strong> <strong>the</strong> analysis <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> cost-effectiveness <strong>of</strong> docetaxel plus<br />

<strong>prednisone</strong>/<strong>prednisolone</strong> from <strong>the</strong> perspective <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> NHS. Two separate analyses were undertaken<br />

based on different sets <strong>of</strong> potentially relevant<br />

comparat<strong>or</strong>s. Despite <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> separate analyses,<br />

<strong>the</strong> estimates <strong>of</strong> cost-effectiveness provided in both<br />

analyses were similar. This model indicated that<br />

mitoxantrone plus a c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroid dominates a<br />

c<strong>or</strong>ticosteroid alone (i.e. it is cheaper and m<strong>or</strong>e<br />

effective). Compared <strong>with</strong> mitoxantrone plus<br />

xvii

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