title: First-line bevacizumab plus taxane-based chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: cost-minimisation analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To carry out a cost minimisation analysis including a comparison of the costs arising from first-line treatment by bevacizumab plus docetaxel (BD) versus bevacizumab plus paclitaxel (BP) of patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC).
  
  
  METHODS
  All consecutive patients with human epidermal growth receptor 2-negative mBC and treated at Besançon University hospital between 2006 and 2010 by a first-line therapy containing bevacizumab plus taxane were retrospectively studied. Economic analysis took into account costs related to drugs, hospitalization and healthcare travel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Progression-free survival difference between the two treatments was insignificant (p-value=0.31). BP treatment was associated with a higher mean total cost than that of BD treatment, €53,093 ± 34,395 versus €60,196 ± 48,766, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whereas bevacizumab is recommended for first-line treatment of mBC with paclitaxel-based chemotherapy, our study has shown that BD treatment is the most cost-efficient regimen. It could be an attractive option in France, with a potential cost saving of €24,000,000 per year.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital, 3 Boulevard Fleming, 25030 BESANCON Cedex, France.
authors: Virginie
authors: V
authors: Nerich
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Bazan
authors: Fanny
authors: F
authors: Compagnat
authors: Erion
authors: E
authors: Dobi
authors: Cristian
authors: C
authors: Villanueva
authors: Loïc
authors: L
authors: Chaigneau
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Perrin
authors: Aline
authors: A
authors: Voidey
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Pivot
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Limat
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; C080625:taxane; D000068258:Bevacizumab