title: [The cost-effectiveness analysis of gefitinib or erlotinib in the treatment of advanced EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) had become a research hotspot. Both of gefitinib and erlotinib had already been recommended as first line treatment in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant advanced NSCLC patients. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness and prognosis of advanced NSCLC with gefitinib or erlotinib, as well as the cost-effectiveness ratio of the two drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 66 EGFR mutant NSCLC patients who were included in Guangzhou medical insurance were analyzed. The efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated. All the patients were followed-up regularly and the cost of the treatment was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median progression free survival (PFS) of all patients was 15.0 months. 49 patients received gefintib and 17 patients had erlotinib. The PFS for the two groups of patients was 17.5 month and 13 months, respectively (P=0.459). 31 (62.3%) patients had rash in gefitinib group, 16 (94.1%) in erlotinib group. Cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) in gefitinib group was 3,027 RMB per month, while 6,800 RMB in erlotinib group. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICEA) of erlotinib was 2.25 times of gefitinib.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For EGFR mutant advanced NSCLC patients, equal efficacy and survival benefit were observed in patients with gefitinib and erlotinib. The adverse reaction was milder in gefitinib group than that of erlotinib group. And with Guangzhou medical insurance, gefitinib had a superior cost-effectiveness ratio.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hongyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Junling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Likun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ningning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib