title: Pharmacoeconomic analysis of capecitabine versus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin as adjuvant therapy for stage III colon cancer in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the cost-effectiveness of oral capecitabine compared with intravenous bolus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) in the adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer in Taiwan from payer (Bureau of National Health Insurance [BNHI]) perspectives.
  
  
  METHODS
  A health state-transition model was developed to estimate the incremental costs and effectiveness of capecitabine versus 5-FU/LV. The time horizons studied were: treatment duration (24 weeks) plus 36 months, 48 months, 60 months, 120 months, and lifetime. Costs were expressed in Taiwanese new dollars (NT$). Clinical outcomes, medical resource use, and utilities were extracted from published sources. Unit costs were estimated from BNHI fee schedules, published sources, and local expert opinion. Outcomes and future costs were discounted at 3%. Cost-effectiveness was expressed as cost per quality-adjusted life-month (QALM). The effects of uncertainty were explored through a one-way sensitivity analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the 24-week time period, drug acquisition costs were higher for capecitabine than 5-FU/LV (NT$114,405 vs. NT$4,904 per patient); however, these were offset by the higher administration costs of 5-FU/LV (NT$2,573 vs. NT$204,201 per patient). Overall direct costs for the 24-week treatment period were less with capecitabine than 5-FU/LV (NT$129,327 vs. NT$233,873 per patient). Cost savings with capecitabine were also evident when longer time horizons were considered. Over a lifetime, the projected survival benefit for capecitabine was 7 QALMs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the perspectives of the BNHI and society in Taiwan, capecitabine not only saves costs but also improves health outcomes compared with 5-FU/LV in the adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer.
authors.affiliation: Mackay Memorial Hospital and Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-Chi
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Hong-Hwa
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hwei-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jye-Hann
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Shu-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jao
authors.forename: Hsin-Chieh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Chung-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Jen-Hao
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Li-Tzong
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069287:Capecitabine; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics; D016527:Drug Costs; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D018803:Models, Economic; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D015996:Survival Rate; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil