§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of women diagnosed with breast cancer tested to date overexpress the HER-2 marker; [2324]
(2) what the cost per patient is of assessing the HER-2 status of women diagnosed with breast cancer; [2319]
67W (3) what guidelines he has issued to health authorities assessing the HER-2 status of women diagnosed with breast cancer; [2326]
(4) what proportion of women diagnosed with breast cancer were assessed for the expression of the HER-2 marker (a) by the NHS and (b) privately in England in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001; [2321]
(5) what financial support he has provided to cancer centres and units to assess the HER-2 status of women diagnosed with breast cancer; [2325]
(6) what assessment he has made of the implications for treatment of women with breast cancer who overexpress the HER-2 marker; [2320]
(7) what recent discussions he has had with the (a) cancer charities, (b) patient group of organisations, (c) medical profession and (d) pharmaceutical companies regarding HER-2 testing of women diagnosed with breast cancer. [2323]
§ Yvette CooperWe do not know how many women are currently tested for the HER-2 marker, either on the national health service or privately. Some research groups working in NHS trusts will measure HER-2 status for research purposes, or prior to entry of patients into clinical trials.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently assessing the clinical and cost-effectiveness of herceptin (a drug that specifically targets the HER-2 protein) and will publish guidance shortly. As part of that appraisal process we expect that NICE will be looking at the cost of HER-2 testing. Charities, patient groups, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry will all have had the opportunity to submit evidence to NICE during this process.
Health authorities will be expected to meet the costs of positive recommendations from NICE from the £255 million available to them in 2001–02 for cancer services.
§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on women with breast cancer who overexpress the HER2 marker of non-prescription of herceptin. [4157]
§ Yvette CooperNo assessment has been made of the impact of non-prescription herceptin in women who over express the HER2 marker. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has been asked to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of herceptin in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.
If NICE makes a positive recommendation for herceptin health authorities will be expected to fund the treatment from the additional £255 million available to them for cancer services in 2001–02.