Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Economic Analysis of Alliance A041202 CLL Study

This study, completed in 2021, focused on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a type of cancer affecting white blood cells. Researchers compared two treatment approaches: ibrutinib with rituximab, and a different treatment known as BR therapy. The main goal was to understand the financial costs and health benefits of each. They looked at things like how much healthcare resources were used and how these treatments affected a patient's quality of life. This helps Canadian healthcare make informed decisions about which treatments provide the best value for patients. The study asked patients to complete questionnaires to measure their well-being.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

Canadian Cancer Trials Group

Enrolment target

Start

15 Apr 2015

Estimated completion

07 Jun 2026

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

What is this study about?

This study was about chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), which is a type of cancer that affects certain white blood cells. Researchers looked at two ways to treat CLL: one treatment involved a drug called ibrutinib combined with another drug called rituximab, and the other was a therapy known as BR. They wanted to see how each treatment affected patients' quality of life and what the total costs were for the Canadian public healthcare system.

Imagine you have two ways to fix something important – both work, but one might be more expensive or make you feel better or worse during the process. This study was like that but for CLL treatments. It aimed to figure out which treatment gave the most 'bang for its buck' in terms of improving health and well-being, while also considering how much it cost the healthcare system.

The findings, which came out in 2021, help doctors and healthcare planners decide which treatments offer the best value for patients with CLL. By understanding both the health benefits and the financial side, they can make choices that support both good care and sensible use of healthcare resources.

Key takeaways

This study compared costs and benefits of two CLL treatments.
It aimed to find which treatment offered best value and quality of life.
Researchers looked at ibrutinib with rituximab versus BR therapy.
Patient wellbeing was measured using questionnaires.
The results help improve future CLL treatment decisions in Canada.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this particular part of the study, you would first need to be eligible for the main CLL study (called A041202). This means meeting specific health criteria that the doctors would explain to you.

If you were eligible for the main study, you would also need to be able and willing to fill out health questionnaires in either English or French. These questionnaires help the researchers understand how you feel and your quality of life. You would need to complete a first questionnaire before starting any new treatment.

It's important that you could easily get to your appointments for treatment and follow-up. This helps make sure all your information, like how you're responding to treatment and any side effects, can be fully recorded.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you eligible for the main CLL study (A041202)?
Are you able and willing to complete questionnaires in English or French?
Can you easily attend appointments for treatment and follow-up?
Are you willing to have your treatment details and progress recorded?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

As this study looked back at information gathered during a previous treatment, if you were involved, your participation would have centered on completing specific health questionnaires. These questionnaires, which measure your well-being, would have needed to be filled out at the start of the study and possibly at other times. The main aim was to understand your quality of life while on the treatments being studied. Your doctors and the study team would have made sure to record all details about your treatment, any side effects you experienced, and your progress over time.

Potential risks and benefits

This particular study was an analysis of existing data, so it primarily focused on understanding information already collected from patients. The direct risks to patients from *this* part of the study (filling out questionnaires) would have been very low, mainly involving a small amount of time and effort. The potential benefits include helping researchers and healthcare providers understand which CLL treatments offer the best quality of life and value, which can improve future care for others. As with any study involving personal information, your privacy and confidentiality would have been protected. Patients always have the right to withdraw their consent to provide information at any time without it affecting their medical care.

Locations (15)

Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Verified postcode
Calgary, Canada
The Moncton Hospital
Verified postcode
Moncton, Canada
Health Sciences North
Verified postcode
Greater Sudbury, Canada
Juravinski Cancer Centre at Hamilton Health Sciences
Verified postcode
Hamilton, Canada
Kingston Health Sciences Centre
Verified postcode
Kingston, Canada
London Regional Cancer Program
Verified postcode
London, Canada
Stronach Regional Health Centre at Southlake
Verified postcode
Newmarket, Canada
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Verified postcode
Ottawa, Canada
Humber River Hospital
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada
Odette Cancer Centre Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada
University Health Network Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada
CSSS Champlain-Charles LeMoyne
Verified postcode
Greenfield Park, Canada

Common questions

What is CLL?

CLL stands for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia. It's a type of cancer that affects white blood cells, which are part of your immune system.

What were the treatments being studied?

The study looked at two treatment options for CLL: one was ibrutinib with rituximab, and the other was a therapy simply called BR.

What does 'cost-effectiveness' mean in this study?

It means the study compared the costs of different treatments against the health benefits they provided to see which one offered the best value for money for the healthcare system.

Why did they ask about quality of life?

Understanding quality of life helps researchers know how well patients feel and function during and after treatment, which is a very important part of overall health benefit.

Was this study conducted recently?

The analysis of the study information was completed in 2021, using data collected previously.