title: Review of cost-effectiveness analyses in hormonal therapies in advanced breast cancer.
abstract: Many new cancer treatments that slow progression and extend survival are emerging. These advances bring new hope to patients and physicians, but often increase health expenditures in an already cost-conscious environment. To help guide resource allocation decisions, cost-effectiveness models are constructed to compare the costs and outcomes of new treatments with current options, and to encourage the uptake of new technologies. This study focuses on the cost-effectiveness studies published since 1997 for hormonal treatment options in advanced breast cancer. This paper: i) examines the quality of studies in terms of reporting methods and transparency of the models; ii) compares the calculated cost-effectiveness ratios; and iii) makes recommendations for future cost-effectiveness models in advanced breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: The MEDTAP Institute, UBC, 20 Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1A 2NS, UK.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000191:economics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D008535:Megestrol / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018803:Models, Economic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen; D008535:Megestrol