Subcutaneous Versus Intravenous Rituximab in CLL: Canadian Experience
Posted: Monday, August 3, 2020
Based on the results of the SCUBA study, an online survey of Canadian health-care practitioners published in Current Oncology, subcutaneous rituximab may be a superior treatment choice versus intravenous rituximab in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Despite being similarly efficacious, subcutaneous administration of the treatment has notable nonclinical benefits, including reduced preparation and administration time as well as potentially lower cost.
“The comparable efficacy, significant time and cost savings, and preference for the [subcutaneous] over the [intravenous] formulation of rituximab suggest that, to increase efficiency in cancer care delivery, cancer centers should consider [subcutaneous] administration for most patients with CLL, follicular lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,” concluded Douglas Stewart, MD, of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, and colleagues.
The SCUBA study was an online survey sent to 55 health-care practitioners at 25 cancer centers across Canada. Results indicated that the average time required to prepare subcutaneous rituximab was shorter than for intravenous rituximab (13.4 minutes vs. 20.3 minutes). Similarly, the average time required for a nurse to administer subcutaneous treatment was also shorter (32.2 minutes vs. 118.5 minute). Treatment preparation cost was 33.5% lower with subcutaneous rituximab. On average, patients receiving subcutaneous rituximab spent less time in the treatment chair than those receiving intravenous rituximab (41.3 minutes vs. 166.9 minutes). Subcutaneous treatment also resulted in an average drug wastage reduction of 62%.
Survey respondents included 23 nurses, 16 physicians, and 16 pharmacists. The majority of respondents indicated their treatment centers were currently “full to capacity” (n = 22), whereas all others reported their centers were “busy but manageable” (n = 19). Most participants were located in Ontario (n = 30).
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit current-oncology.com.
