title: Cost-effectiveness analysis of the bevacizumab-irinotecan regimen in the treatment of primary glioblastoma multiforme recurrences.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to calculate the cost-effectiveness of the inclusion of the bevacizumab (BVZ) + irinotecan (CPT-11) regimen in the second-line of treatment for primary glioblastoma multiforme. A retrospective cohort study with a control group was performed in which the cost-effectiveness of a course of chemotherapy was calculated based on survival time and the incremental cost between the two lines of treatment. A total of 77 patients were included, 36 of who formed the BVZ/CPT-11 cohort. The median survival time for the non-BVZ control cohort was 13.23 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 11.79-14.68], while for the BVZ/CPT-11 treatment cohort, the median survival time was 17.63 months (95% CI, 15.38-19.89). Overall, each year of life gained for each patient treated with BVZ/CPT-11 would cost €46,401.99. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the BVZ/CPT-11 combination, but its incremental cost compared with other lines of treatment or the best care available does not appear to be acceptable for public health systems in the current situation of budgetary adjustments.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Central Universitary Hospital of Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; School of Pharmacy, The Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Ruiz-Sánchez
authors: School of Pharmacy, The Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Irene Iglesias
authors: II
authors: Peinado
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Central Universitary Hospital of Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Alaguero-Calero
authors: Department of Pharmacy, San Juan de Dios Hospital, 50006 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors: Alejandro José
authors: AJ
authors: Sastre-Heres
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Severo Ochoa University Hospital, Leganés, 28911 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Benito García
authors: BG
authors: Diez
authors: School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18011 Granada, Spain.
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Peña-Díaz
keywords: antiangiogenic; bevacizumab; cost-effectiveness; glioblastoma; irinotecan