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01-10-2006 | Original Article

Clinical and economic impact of epoetin in adjuvant-chemotherapy for breast cancer

Authors: Philippe Fagnoni, Samuel Limat, Loïc Chaigneau, Emmanuel Guardiola, Stéphanie Briaud, Bernard Schmitt, Yacine Merrouche, Xavier Pivot, Marie-Christine Woronoff-Lemsi

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 10/2006

Abstract

Introduction

Anaemia is a common toxicity in cancer patients and epoetins (EPOs) are now an established treatment. The economic profile of EPO treatment was assessed in patients with breast cancer treated by adjuvant-chemotherapy.

Materials and methods

Two strategies were compared: without treatment by EPO and with the possible use of treatment by EPO (epoetin alfa) when required. The clinical effectiveness criterion was time adjusted to quality of life and economic data included only direct medical costs.

Main results

One hundred ninety-two patients were included. In the group with the strategy containing the possible use of EPO, 45.5% of patients effectively received EPO. A significant difference in the haemoglobin level profile over time was observed which provided a significant overall benefit of 0.0052 (p<10⁻⁴) quality-adjusted life year (QALY) associated with an extra cost of €1,615 (p<10⁻⁴). In the base case analysis, the cost per added QALY was estimated as €310,577 with the strategy containing the possible use of EPO.

Conclusion

This robust result seems to be unacceptable, but the only relevant point of discussion might be the level of acceptable incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for a patient.

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Title: Clinical and economic impact of epoetin in adjuvant-chemotherapy for breast cancer
Authors: Philippe Fagnoni
Samuel Limat
Loïc Chaigneau
Emmanuel Guardiola
Stéphanie Briaud
Bernard Schmitt
Yacine Merrouche
Xavier Pivot
Marie-Christine Woronoff-Lemsi
Publication date: 01-10-2006
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 10/2006
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0062-5

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Abstract

Introduction

Materials and methods

Main results

Conclusion

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