Publication
Title
Adding docetaxel to cisplatin and fluorouracil in patients with unresectable head and neck cancer : a cost-utility analysis
Author
Abstract
Adding docetaxel (Taxotere, T) to induction chemotherapy with platinum/infusional 5-FU (PF) has been shown to improve overall survival of patients with head and neck cancer. The aim of the study was to analyze the cost-utility of TPF in patients with unresectable disease. We developed a Markov model to represent patient's weekly transitions among different health states, related to treatment or disease status. Transition probabilities were obtained from the TAX 324 clinical trial report and from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) 24971/TAX 323 raw data. Costs were estimated in Italy from a Regional Healthcare System perspective. A 5-year temporal horizon was adopted and a 3.5% yearly discount rate was applied. When compared with PF, TPF treatment increases life expectancy by 0.33 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) in TAX 323 and 0.41 QALYs in TAX 324. The benefit was achieved at a cost of euro11 822/QALY for TAX 323 and euro6757/QALY for TAX 324. Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis showed that 69% (TAX 323) and 99% (TAX 324) of the results lie below the threshold of euro50 000/QALY saved. In our analysis, TPF induction chemotherapy proved to be cost-effective when compared with PF, having a cost-utility ratio comparable to other widely accepted healthcare interventions.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Annals of oncology / European Society for Medical Oncology. - Amsterdam
Publication
Amsterdam : 2012
ISSN
0923-7534
DOI
10.1093/ANNONC/MDR545
Volume/pages
23 :7 (2012) , p. 1825-1832
ISI
000306135200027
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 13.09.2012
Last edited 09.10.2023
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