Clinical management patterns of advanced and metastatic gastro‐oesophageal carcinoma after fluoropyrimidine/platinum treatment in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom

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.