Cost-effectiveness analysis of adjuvant therapy for node positive breast cancer in Korea: docetaxel, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (TAC) versus fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (FAC).
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated the incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) and cost-utility ratios (ICUR) of TAC compared with FAC following primary surgery for node positive breast cancer patients in Korea.


METHODS
A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed using the Markov model from the combined view of Korean National Health Insurance and patients. The model allowed assessment from the beginning of the first cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy following primary surgery until death. Relevant clinical data were obtained from the clinical trial BCIRG 001 and data for local treatment patterns and direct medical costs were obtained from three Korean hospitals.


RESULTS
Over a life time horizon, the life expectancy of TAC was 0.9 years longer than that of FAC. The ICER was 8,025,879 Korean won (KW, 6,573 euro) per life year gained and the ICUR was 8,885,794 KW (7,277 euro) per QALY gained when the cost and effectiveness were discounted at 5%. The model was most sensitive to the percent patient receiving prophylactic granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in TAC arm and the ICUR was 12,119,561 KW (9,926 euro) when assuming 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
TAC appears to be cost-effective in the management of early breast cancer in Korea.
Lee
Sang Gyu
SG
Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, San#29, Anseo dong, Cheonan, Chungnam 330-715, Korea. leevan@dankook.ac.kr
Jee
Young Geon
YG
Chung
Hyun Chul
HC
Kim
Sung-Bae
SB
Ro
Jungsil
J
Im
Young-Hyuck
YH
Im
Seock-Ah
SA
Seo
Jae Hong
JH
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008875:Middle Aged; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil