NICE Single Technology Appraisal Guidance No 208 –
Trastuzumab for the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic
gastric cancer
This NICE guidance was published on 24 November
2010. The web reference for the appraisal and other related
documents is: http://www.nice.org.uk/TA208
NHSScotland should note
that:
1. Recommendations of NICE Single Technology
Appraisals (STAs) have no status in NHSScotland.
2. NHS boards should adhere to the Scottish
Medicines Consortium (SMC) advice.
SMC published a Statement of Advice (623/10) on
this medication for this indication in February 2011. This stated
that:
Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is not recommended for
use within NHSScotland in combination with capecitabine or
5-fluorouracil and cisplatin for the treatment of patients with
HER2 positive metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach or
gastro-oesophageal junction who have not received prior anti-cancer
treatment for their metastatic disease. Herceptin is indicated for
use only in patients with metastatic gastric cancer whose tumours
have HER2 overexpression as defined by IHC2+ and a confirmatory
FISH+ result, or IHC 3+, as determined by an accurate and validated
assay.
Access the advice of SMC:
3. There is a material difference between the
recommendations of the NICE STA and SMC. NICE has recommended the
medicine for its licensed indication as it met the criteria for
consideration of the medicine as a life-extending, end of life
treatment.
Published Date: 24 November 2010
