Liver function a concern for lung cancer patients taking Tarceva

From CBC News:
Drug company Hoffman-La Roche is telling doctors prescribing Tarceva to lung cancer patients to closely monitor the liver function of those who recently have taken or who are taking the drug.

The drug Tarceva (erlotinib) is used to treat patients with non-small-cell lung cancer at an advanced stage when chemotherapy has not helped to stop the disease.

The letter issued by Hoffman-La Roche says a study of patients with advanced cancer and moderate liver impairment found that a higher number of patients died during treatment or within 30 days of the last dose, compared to patients with normal liver function. ...more

Funding for liver cancer treatment to depend on evaluation

From the Regina Leader Post:
Health Canada approved a drug to treat liver cancer on Monday, but funding Nexavar could be a tough economic pill for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency to swallow.

Nexavar was approved by Health Canada after a worldwide trial involving 602 patients demonstrated that the average survival rate for Nexavar-treated patients was 10.7 months compared to 7.9 months for those taking a placebo.

Before the cancer agency decides about funding Nexavar it will wait for an evaluation of the drug's benefit and cost from the Joint Oncology Drug Review (JODR), a process underway in all provinces except Quebec, said Kathy Gesy, the agency's provincial leader of oncology pharmacy services.

If the JODR gives Nexavar its stamp of approval, then the agency must determine where the drug fits in its queue of many unfunded drugs. ...more