The economics of temozolomide in brain cancer.
For 30 years, nitrosourea was the only adjuvant treatment available for aggressive glioma patients, despite its severe side effects; and, therefore, radiotherapy was often the therapy of choice. Survival prospect in these patients was, however, low with generally few patients surviving beyond 2 years. Recently, temozolomide was successfully tested in a number of randomised clinical trials and showed an increased survival. As many countries are considering reimbursement or have granted a market authorisation for temozolomide, a number of studies have been published in various countries in order to assess the cost-effectiveness of temozolomide for glioma patients in first- or second-line treatment. These studies show that in general, the incremental cost-effectiveness of temozolomide as adjuvant treatment, albeit at the higher end of commonly accepted thresholds, falls in line with other accepted cancer treatments.
Crott
Ralph
R
Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, Brussels, Belgium. Ralph.Crott@skynet.be
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015996:Survival Rate; D000077204:Temozolomide
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide