title: Cost-Effectiveness of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Early-Stage Colon Cancer.
abstract: Several adjuvant chemotherapy regimens exist for the treatment of stage III colon cancer. In conjunction with the clinical data from randomized trials, cost-effectiveness studies might help to inform the selection of the optimal treatment regimen. In this review, the outcomes from randomized clinical trials and the elements and process of a cost-effectiveness analysis in this setting are discussed. In addition, the data from several published cost-effectiveness analysis studies in the adjuvant setting are reviewed. In general, capecitabine-based regimens have been found to be less costly and more effective than 5-fluorouracil-based regimens. The combination of oxaliplatin leads to a modestly improved effectiveness and at an acceptable incremental cost. Future studies using data obtained outside the setting of a clinical trial might help to further guide selection of the most cost-effective regimen.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine and Cancer Therapeutics Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: sonia@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine and Cancer Therapeutics Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000473:pathology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: 5-Fluorouracil; Capecitabine; Cost-effectiveness analysis; Oxaliplatin; Pharmacoeconomics; Stage III colon cancer