Goserelin acetate, subcutaneous implant, 3.6 mg (base) in pre-filled injection syringe, Zoladex Implant®, November 2009
Public Summary Document for Goserelin acetate, subcutaneous implant, 3.6 mg (base) in pre-filled injection syringe, Zoladex Implant®, November 2009
Page last updated: 05 March 2010
Public Summary Document
Product: Goserelin acetate, subcutaneous implant,
3.6 mg (base) in pre-filled injection syringe, Zoladex
Implant®,
Sponsor: AstraZeneca Pty Ltd
Date of PBAC Consideration: November 2009
1. Purpose of Application
The submission sought to extend the current Authority Required
listing to include use in hormone dependent early breast cancer in
peri or pre-menopausal women.
2. Background
Goserelin acetate 3.6 mg subcutaneous implant has not previously
been considered by the PBAC for the treatment of hormone receptor
positive early stage breast cancer in peri or premenopausal
women.
3. Registration Status
Goserelin acetate 3.6 mg subcutaneous implant was TGA registered on 14 October 1991. It is indicated for:
- Prostate cancer (palliative; adjuvant, neoadjuvant therapy with radiotherapy for locally advanced prostate cancer);
- Advanced breast cancer (premenopausal women);
- Early breast cancer (adjuvant)-perimenopausal and premenopausal women;
- Symptomatic control in proven endometriosis;
- Uterine fibroids (selected cases);
- Endometrial thinning prior to ablation;
- Pituitary down regulation prior to controlled ovarian superstimulation
4. Listing Requested and PBAC’s View
Changes to the current listing are highlighted in bold, italics and strikethrough.
Authority required
Locally advanced (equivalent to stage C) or metastatic (equivalent to stage D) carcinoma
of the prostate
Hormone-dependent locally advanced (equivalent to stage III) or metastatic (equivalent to stage IV) breast cancer in peri or pre-menopausal women;
Short-term treatment (up to 6 months) of visually proven endometriosis (only 1 course
of not more than 6 month’s therapy will be authorised).
For PBAC’s view see Recommendation and Reasons.
5. Clinical Place for the Proposed Therapy
Approximately 60% of breast cancer tumours in premenopausal women
are hormone sensitive (oestrogen or progesterone receptor
positive). These patients may be suitable for hormonal treatment.
The goal of hormonal therapy is to reduce the availability of
oestrogen/progesterone to the cancer cell to reduce tumour growth.
This can be achieved by combination chemotherapy, blocking
oestrogen receptors with drugs such as tamoxifen, suppression of
oestrogen synthesis by luteinising hormone releasing hormone (LHRH)
agonists such as goserelin or ovarian ablation either surgically
(oophorectomy) or by radiotherapy. In women who retain their
hormone function after chemotherapy, tamoxifen and/or LHRH agonists
are given alone or in combination to reduce circulating oestrogen
levels.
Goserelin acetate 3.6 mg provides an alternative to combination
chemotherapy or irreversible ovary ablation (via oophorectomy or
radiotherapy) for the treatment of hormone dependent early breast
cancer for peri or premenopausal women.
6. Comparator
The submission nominated the main comparator as chemotherapy. A
secondary comparison with oophorectomy (either before or after
chemotherapy) was also provided.
The submission stated there are insufficient data to compare
goserelin to tamoxifen in this setting. However, a summary of data
available comparing the use of LHRH analogues in combination with
tamoxifen as an alternative to chemotherapy was presented.
The submission stated that the main difference between goserelin
3.6 mg and either chemotherapy or oophorectomy is that goserelin
induces a menopausal status that may be reversible on cessation of
therapy. This may enable younger women with early breast cancer to
resume menses and possibly conceive after their adjuvant breast
cancer treatment is completed.
7. Clinical Trials
The submission acknowledged that the majority of clinical data
comparing goserelin and chemotherapy as adjuvant therapies in early
breast cancer (EBC) uses the CMF chemotherapy regimen
[cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil] which is no longer
widely used in clinical practice.
Anthracycline based chemotherapy regimens have now become the
standard of care: e.g. doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC),
doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, docetaxel (TAC),
fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide and docetaxel (FEC-D),
fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC).
The submission presented the results of two meta-analyses as
follows:
Clinical evidence of the use of LHRH analogues in hormone
receptor positive EBC in peri or premenopausal
women:
- LHRH-agonists in Early Breast Cancer Overview Group. Use of luteinising-hormone-releasing hormone agonists as adjuvant treatment in premenopausal patients with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer: a meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomised adjuvant trials. Cuzick et al (2007) The Lancet 2007 May 19; 369 (9574):1711-23.
The meta-analysis from Cuzick et al (2007) used data from 11 906
women from sixteen clinical trials, the majority of whom used
goserelin (10 040 patients) as the LHRH analogue and the remainder
randomised to triptorelin or leuprorelin. Patients were node
negative or node positive. The majority of trials were not blinded
to treatment allocation as they were comparing combination
intravenous chemotherapy with or without a subcutaneously implanted
tablet (goserelin) and/or an oral tablet (tamoxifen). Four trials
in the meta-analyses compared LHRH analogues to chemotherapy
(CMF).
- Sharma R, Hamilton A, Beith J. LHRH agonists for adjuvant therapy of early breast cancer in premenopausal women (Cochrane Review). Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews 2008; (4): 1-29.
The Cochrane review contained data from 14 randomised trials
containing nearly 12,000 women and was consistent with the data
included in the Cuzick meta-analysis.
Clinical evidence on the use of ovarian ablation by surgery
or irradiation:
The submission presented a meta-analysis of the following data
examining ovarian ablation by surgical removal (oophorectomy) or
irradiation to enable a comparison between goserelin and
oophorectomy:
Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaboration Group. Ovarian
ablation in early breast cancer: Overview of the randomised trials.
The Lancet 1996 November 1; 348:1189-96
This series of meta-analyses examined the long term outcome (up to
15 years) of the patients randomised to clinical trials between
1948 and 1985. Data from almost 1200 women 50 years or younger were
included (this age limit was designed to capture peri and
premenopausal women as menopausal status was not consistently
defined).
The submission provided the following published references:
| Trial/First author | Protocol title/Publication title | Publication citation |
| Cuzick et al, 2007 | LHRH-agonists in Early Breast Cancer Overview Group. Use of luteinising-hormone-releasing hormone agonists as adjuvant treatment in premenopausal patients with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer: a meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomised adjuvant trials. | The Lancet 2007 May 19; 369 (9574):1711-23. |
| National Breast Cancer Council | Clinical Practice Guidelines-Management of Early Breast Cancer (Second edition). 2001. | |
| Sharma et al, 2008 | LHRH agonists for adjuvant therapy of early breast cancer in premenopausal women (Cochrane Review). | Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews 2008; (4):1-29. |
| Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaboration Group. | Ovarian ablation in early breast cancer: overview of the randomised trials. | The Lancet 1996 November 1; 348:1189-96. |
| Goldhurst A et al, 2009 | Thresholds for Therapies: highlights of the St Gallen International Expert consensus on the Primary therapy of Early Breast Cancer 2009. | Annals of Oncology Advance Access 2009 June 17. |
| Partridge AH et al 2001 | Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Combined Chemohormonal therapy in Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer. | Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs 2001; 30:135-42. |
| Tham Y-LM et al, 2007 | The Rates of Chemotherapy-Induced Amenorrhea in Patients Treated with Adjuvant Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide Followed by a Taxane. | American Journal of Clinical Oncology 2007 April 2; 30 (2):126-32. |
| Department of Health and Ageing | Intravenous Chemotherapy Supply Programme Guidelines. | Canberra; 2009 Feb 10. |
| Cancer Institute NSW | Cancer Institute of NSW Standard Cancer Treatments Website | https://www.treatment.cancerinstitute.org.au/cancerinstitute/cancerinstituteDADAServlet?sid=2630463CIS&ent=1ES100&page=5BENPC&TopTab=Heal&AcceptHPTerms=true |
| Smith TJ et al, 2006 | 2006 update of recommendations for the use of white blood cell growth factors: an evidence-based clinical practice guideline. | Journal of Clinical Oncology 2006 January 1; 24(19). |
| Do KA TS et al, 1998 | Predictive factors of age at menopause in a large Australian twin study. | Human Biology 1998; 70(6):1073-91. |
| Morabia A et al, 1998 | Collaborative study of neoplasia and steroid contraceptives. International variablility in ages at menarche, first livebirth and menopause. | American Journal of Epidemiology 1998 January 1; 148(12):1195-205. |
| National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons | National Breast Cancer Audit: Public Health Monitoring Series 2007 data. Surry Hills, NSW | NBOCC; 2009 |
8. Results of Trials
The following comparisons were presented in the submission:
1a. LHRH analogue compared to chemotherapy.
A meta-analysis of the data comparing LHRH analogues (mostly
consisting of goserelin data) was presented by Cuzick et al in
2007.
The submission stated that when used as adjuvant treatment in
hormone receptor positive early breast cancer, LHRH analogues were
equally efficacious as chemotherapy in preventing recurrence of
breast cancer (HR 1.04, 95 % CI 0.92-1.17, p=0.52) and preventing
death after recurrence of breast cancer (HR 0.93, 95 % CI
0.79-1.10, p=0.40).
The Cuzick et al (2007) meta-analysis did not undertake a
comparison of the side effect profile of chemotherapy and LHRH
analogues though the Cochrane Review stated hormonal therapy has
fewer distressing side effects compared to chemotherapy. The
incidence of menopausal side effects (hot flushes, vaginal dryness
etc) was similar in both treatment groups, however women randomised
to the chemotherapy group also experienced nausea and
alopecia.
Quality of Life assessments included in the Cochrane review show
goserelin improves QoL compared to chemotherapy in the first six
months, but these differences do not continue beyond the first year
of therapy.
1b. LHRH analogue in combination with tamoxifen compared to
chemotherapy.
Where goserelin is used as an alternative to chemotherapy it can be
used in combination with tamoxifen. The submission stated that a
meta-analysis of three studies using this treatment scenario by
Cuzick et al showed LHRH analogues used in combination with
tamoxifen are more effective than chemotherapy alone. This did not
reach significance (for recurrence of breast cancer; HR 0.90, 95 %
CI 0.75-1.08, p=0.25 for death following recurrence; HR 0.89, 95 %
CI 0.69-1.15, p=0.37).
The main side effect experienced by patients randomised to the
goserelin and tamoxifen combination was hot flushes (91 %). The
side effects of chemotherapy were as anticipated; nausea (81 %),
alopecia (55 %) and hot flushes (54 %).
1c. Use of LHRH agonist with tamoxifen compared to
tamoxifen alone.
The submission stated that the addition of an LHRH analogue to
tamoxifen reduced the rate of recurrence compared to tamoxifen
alone (HR 0.85, 95 % CI 0.67-1.09, p=0.20) and death following
recurrence (HR 0.84, 95 % CI 0.59-1.19, p=0.33). The results were
not significant. More side effects were experienced by the women
randomised to the goserelin and tamoxifen combination (65 %) than
tamoxifen alone (56 %). The most common side effects were hot
flushes (44 % versus 26 %) and weight gain (11 % versus 4 %).
1d. Use of tamoxifen or LHRH agonist alone as adjuvant
treatment of EBC in premenopausal women.
Cuzick et al did not compare the use of goserelin 3.6 mg or
tamoxifen therapy alone as adjuvant treatment of hormone receptor
positive EBC. The Cochrane Review reported the results of two small
trials (320 patients and 187 patients) randomised to either
goserelin or tamoxifen. The submission stated that no significant
difference was reported by either trial in rate of recurrence, or
death following recurrence, between patients randomised to
goserelin or tamoxifen. A greater incidence of side effects was
reported by the goserelin treated women.
2a. Use of an LHRH analogue following chemotherapy in
younger women as an alternative to oophorectomy.
Younger women are more likely to retain their hormone function
following chemotherapy, particularly when newer chemotherapy agents
such as anthracycline based chemotherapy are used. The valid
treatment options for women not rendered post menopausal following
chemotherapy are using a LHRH analogue or oophorectomy to cease
production of oestrogen/progesterone.
The submission stated that Cuzick et al showed for women below 40
years of age with hormone receptor positive EBC who had received
chemotherapy (with or without tamoxifen) the subsequent use of
goserelin significantly improved their outcomes. Rate of recurrence
reduced by 25 % (95 % CI -39.4 to -7.7, p=0.01), the rate of death
after recurrence reduced by 28 % (95 % CI -44.9 to -6.8, p=0.01).
For women over 40 years of age (with a higher likelihood of being
rendered post menopausal by chemotherapy), the subsequent use of
goserelin did not significantly reduce the rate of breast cancer
recurrence or death following recurrence.
The submission claimed that goserelin 3.6 mg is an efficacious
treatment option for women who retain their hormone function
following chemotherapy.
The submission stated that no data exist for the treatment setting
following chemotherapy to allow a comparison between the use of
goserelin or oophorectomy.
2b. Goserelin 3.6 mg compared to oophorectomy or
irradiation of the ovaries as adjuvant therapy.
An oophorectomy can be offered to peri or premenopausal women with
hormone dependent EBC as an alternative to adjuvant chemotherapy or
the use of a LHRH analogue.
An indirect comparison between goserelin 3.6 mg and ovarian
ablation as initial adjuvant treatments can be constructed using
historical data comparing ovarian ablation to no systemic adjuvant
treatment (chemotherapy or hormonal therapy) and from patients in
the Cuzick meta-analysis who were randomised to LHRH agonists or no
systemic adjuvant therapy.
Historical comparison of oophorectomy versus no systemic
treatment
Nine studies were included in the Oxford clinical trials group
meta-analysis of the data from ovarian ablation published in 1996.
Five of the studies involved ablation of ovarian function by
irradiation and four studies involved surgical removal of the
ovaries. All studies were conducted in the absence of chemotherapy
and the control group for the studies was no adjuvant therapy. A
total of 1169 women were less than 50 years old in these
studies.
The effect of ovarian ablation in the absence of chemotherapy is a
25 % reduction in the rate of recurrence (standard deviation +- 7
%, p=0.0005) compared to no adjuvant treatment. The reduction in
the rate of death between patients randomised to ovarian ablation
or no adjuvant therapy is similar at 24 % (standard deviation +-7
%, p=0.0006).
Comparison of LHRH agonist and no systemic therapy
The Cuzick et al meta-analysis contained data from five trials
comparing goserelin to no other adjuvant treatment, with 167
patients randomised to the goserelin arm and 171 patient randomised
to the control arm. The reduction in recurrence of breast cancer
was 28 % (95 % CI -50.5% to 3.5 %, p=0.08) and the reduction in
deaths following recurrence was 17.8 5 (95 % CI -52.8 to 42.9 %,
p=0.11).
Indirect comparison
For comparative purposes, an indirect comparison was constructed
between the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaboration
meta-analysis of oophorectomy data compared to no systemic adjuvant
treatment and the Cuzick et al meta-analysis data of the use of
goserelin 3.6 mg compared to no systemic adjuvant. The submission
stated that the treatment effects appear similar.
The authors of the LHRH agonist meta-analysis paper (Cuzick et al)
state that whilst the reduction in risk with goserelin treatment
was not significant it was similar to earlier trials of ovarian
ablation as adjuvant therapy. The wide confidence intervals are
likely to be attributed to the smaller patient numbers in the
goserelin 3.6 mg versus no adjuvant chemotherapy trials.
For PBAC comments, see Recommendation and Reasons.
9. Clinical Claim
The submission claimed that:
(1) goserelin 3.6 mg is equally as efficacious as combination
chemotherapy, but has a superior safety profile and is associated
with a better quality of life, and
(2) goserelin 3.6 mg is equally efficacious as an oophorectomy as
adjuvant treatment.
The PBAC noted the significant advantage of goserelin for some
women in that it avoided the need to cope with infertility
contemporaneously with a diagnosis of breast cancer.
For PBAC’s view, see Recommendation and Reasons.
10. Economic Analysis
The submission presented a cost-analysis for goserelin as an
alternative to chemotherapy, and a cost minimisation analysis for
goserelin as an alternative to oophorectomy.
The PBAC noted that the main translational issue was that the
majority of the clinical data compares goserelin to the
chemotherapy regimen CMF, which is no longer used in clinical
practice. A further translational issue related to the duration of
goserelin therapy in clinical practice in each of the settings
identified above.
Goserelin as an alternative to chemotherapy
The submission estimated that goserelin produces a cost saving per
patient when offered as an alternative to chemotherapy.
Goserelin as an alternative to oophorectomy
The submission estimated that goserelin is associated with a
nominal incremental cost when offered as an alternative to surgical
oophorectomy.
Goserelin in EBC
The submission stated that the results of the cost analysis across
both treatment settings indicate an estimated marginal cost
saving.
11. Estimated PBS Usage and Financial Implications
As optimum duration of treatment in either clinical setting has not
been established, for the purposes of the submission patients were
assumed to receive between one to two years treatment with
goserelin as an alternative to chemotherapy, and as an alternative
to oophorectomy it was assumed 90% of patients were treated for up
to three years with goserelin with the remaining 10% of patients
receiving treatment with goserelin for four to five years. These
estimates were based on expert opinion from the Medical Oncology
Group of Australia and the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer
Centre.
The submission estimated the total number of patients treated with
goserelin per year as an alternative to chemotherapy and
oophorectomy would be less than 10,000.
The overall net cost to the PBS in Year 5 of listing goserelin for
EBC was estimated to be less than $10 million. The estimated net
savings to the MBS and overall net savings to government in Year 5
was less than $10 million, respectively.
12. Recommendation and Reasons
The PBAC recommended listing goserelin on the PBS for hormone
dependent breast cancer as an alternative to adjuvant chemotherapy
in peri or pre-menopausal women on the basis of clinical need and
acceptable cost-effectiveness. The PBAC deferred the recommendation
for listing goserelin for treatment after adjuvant chemotherapy
pending provision of further data in that patient population.
The PBAC acknowledged there was a clinical need for goserelin in
pre-menopausal women with breast cancer who wished to preserve
their fertility and avoid chemotherapy. The PBAC noted that
adjuvant chemotherapy risks for some patients. The PBAC considered
that there is a well defined subgroup of breast cancer patients who
would be suitable for goserelin who are mainly node negative, have
small tumours and are usually between 35 and 40 years of age.
The PBAC noted that the scientific basis for assessing efficacy was
from three sources: Cuzick et al, Lancet 2007, Cochrane Review,
2008 Sharma R and Oxford Early Breast Cancer Trialists’
Collaboration, Lancet 1996 which were all historical trials. The
PBAC noted the Cuzick et al (2007) meta-analysis which showed that
LHRH analogues were equally as efficacious as chemotherapy (CMF) in
preventing recurrence of breast cancer (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.92-1.17,
p=0.52) and preventing death after recurrence of breast cancer (HR
0.93, 95% CI 0.79-1.10, p= 0.40). The Cochrane Review showed
superior acute safety profile to chemotherapy and improvements in
quality of life in first 6 months compared with chemotherapy then
no difference beyond the first year. After 2 years treatment with
goserelin the quality of life may be worse than for those patients
who had adjuvant chemotherapy for an initial three months and this
is reflected in clinical practice where use of goserelin declines
markedly over 2 years, according to expert opinion in the
submission.
The PBAC noted that there are no direct comparative data on safety
or quality of life. However, simple comparisons and expert opinion
support the conclusion that goserelin is safe and better tolerated
than chemotherapy or permanent and premature ovarian failure. The
PBAC also noted the significant advantage of goserelin for some
women in that it avoided the need to cope with infertility
contemporaneously with a diagnosis of breast cancer.
The PBAC noted that the estimated usage of goserelin as an
alternative to chemotherapy was low and would result in a
cost-saving to the Government. However, listing for treatment after
adjuvant chemotherapy would be at a small additional cost per
patient to the Government. The PBAC considered that the appropriate
comparator in this setting was tamoxifen which was cheaper and that
a comparison versus tamoxifen would be more appropriate for this
population.
Recommendation:
GOSERELIN ACETATE, subcutaneous implant, 3.6 mg
(base) in pre-filled injection syringe
Add the following indication to the current restriction:
Restriction:
Authority required
Hormone-dependent breast cancer as an alternative to adjuvant
chemotherapy in peri or pre-menopausal women;
13. Context for Decision
The PBAC helps decide whether and, if so, how medicines should be
subsidised in Australia. It considers submissions in this context.
A PBAC decision not to recommend listing or not to recommend
changing a listing does not represent a final PBAC view about the
merits of the medicine. A company can resubmit to the PBAC or seek
independent review of the PBAC decision.
14. Sponsor’s Comment
AstraZeneca Australia thanks the PBAC for recommending the use of
goserelin as an alternative to chemotherapy for women with early
breast cancer. We would also like to thank the Medical Oncology
Group of Australia for its help and support in the initiation and
compilation of this PBAC submission.
