Objective
To describe treatment patterns and resource utilisation in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom (UK) in patients with unresectable locally advanced and/or metastatic gastro‐oesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA), who failed first‐line fluoropyrimidine/platinum treatment.
Methods
Treating physicians completed a web‐based chart review (2013–2015). Eligible patients were ≥ 18 years old; had unresectable locally advanced and/or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma including the gastro‐oesophageal junction; received first‐line fluoropyrimidine/platinum‐based therapy; and had ≥ 3 months of follow‐up after first‐line discontinuation. Data were summarised descriptively for each country.
Results
There were n = 201 patients in France, n = 202 in Germany, n = 208 in Spain and n = 200 in the UK whose charts were reviewed. Percentages of patients receiving second‐line therapy were 55% (France), 48% (Germany), 54% (Spain) and 29% (UK). At the start of second‐line therapy, most patients had an ECOG performance status of 1 (range 0–3). Second‐line therapy was primarily monotherapy, but agents used varied within and across countries. Supportive care use and resource utilisation were frequent whether receiving additional therapy or not; >60% patients had clinic visits unrelated to chemotherapy administration, and > 30% has ≥ 1 hospital admission.
Conclusions
For the time of study, established GEA treatment guidelines were generally followed. However, therapies varied widely in the second‐line setting.