AMMF’s Response to NHS England’s Draft Commissioning Policy re SIRT for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

NHS-funded SIRT (selective internal radiation therapy) had been available for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma through the CtE (Commissioning through Evaluation) programme until this funding was withdrawn on 31st March 2017 ‘to be evaluated’.

In June 2018, NICE issued their draft Interventional Procedures Guide (IPG) for comment regarding the safety and efficacy of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, in which they did not recommend this treatment because, “Current evidence on the safety of SIRT for unresectable primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma shows that there are well-recognised, serious but rare safety concerns. Evidence on its efficacy is inadequate in quantity and quality.”  And further stating that,  “… this procedure should only be used in the context of research.”

There is more supportive data available than was referred to by the NICE IPG, and AMMF responded very fully to these draft recommendations. To see AMMF’s report and response, click here

However, although the NICE IPG process considers only efficacy and safety and not cost-effectiveness, AMMF was concerned that NHS funding was very unlikely to be restored for a treatment not recommended by NICE, and therefore NHS patient access to this treatment would be denied.

NHS England Radiotherapy Clinical Reference Group have now issued their draft clinical commissioning policy.  AMMF has reviewed this, and also the policy proposition and associated evidence review.  As we expected, following the NICE IPG, they have concluded the following:

‘NHS England has carefully reviewed the evidence to treat chemotherapy refractory or chemotherapy intolerant, unresectable primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with selective internal radiation therapy and has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to make the treatment available at this time.’

Responses to this draft were requested to be submitted by 03 August 2018, and AMMF responded fully to NHS England before this deadline.  We expressed our concerns about the decision made, and that the conclusion seems to have been  reached without, amongst other things, taking into account two current national guidelines (ESMO and NCCN) which had been developed with strong clinical support from international experts, with both reporting positively for SIRT.

To read AMMF’s response to NHS England, click here

 

 

 


Although NHS funding for treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma by SIRT was withdrawn on 31st March 2017, this may be accessed privately or via a clinical trial. 

For information on clinical trials for those with cholangiocarcinoma, including the SIRCCA trial, see : https://ammf.org.uk/clinical-trials/

And for further information on SIRT, see: http://www.mysirtstory.org.uk/how/nhs.htm

Abbreviations
CtE – Commissioning through evaluation
ESMO – European Society of Medical Oncology
ICC – Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
IPC – Interventional Procedure Consultation
IPAC – Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee
IPG – Interventional Procedures Guide
NCCN – National Comprehensive Cancer Network
NICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
NHS – National Health Service
RCRG – Radiotherapy Clinical Reference Group
RCT – Randomised Control Trial
SIRT – Selective Internal Radiation Therapy

 

August 2018