Real-World Outcomes and Value of First-Line Therapy for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer†

Although physicians rely on clinical trial data to guide cancer treatment decisions, patient characteristics and outcomes often differ between real-world and clinical trial populations. We analyzed retrospective clinical data collected from a prior authorization (PA) tool linked with payer claims data to describe outcomes of first-line treatment for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer among 2,108 patients. Duration of therapy was shorter than observed in clinical trials. Healthcare costs and hospitalizations varied substantially by regimen. PA clinical data linked with administrative claims enable head-to-head comparisons of contemporary cancer treatments used in routine clinical practice, which are not available from clinical trials.