Cost-effectiveness analysis of treatment of patients with colorectal cancer with FOLFOX4 and XELOX regimens

Abstract

Introduction. A comparison of the cost of an alternative treatment regimen is the basis of the rationalisation and cost effectiveness of cancer therapy. The aim of the study was to compare two alternative treatment regimens for colorectal cancer in the III and IV advancement stage (FOLFOX4 and XELOX). Material and methods. A cost-effectiveness analysis was carried out on the basis of data collected retrospectively; considering 100 patients treated at the Oncology Centre in Bydgoszcz. A measure of the effectiveness of the therapy was the total survival time of patients. Data on the average survival time of patients has been obtained from clinical trials. Results. The total cost of treatment per patient was 33 879.13 PLN in FOLFOX4. In XELOX the average cost per patient was 20 023.96 PLN. The endpoint, defined as the average survival time of patients treated with the FOLFOX4 scheme amounted to 27.25 months. In the case of the use of the XELOX regimen, the average survival time was 23.65 months. Incremental costs for additional units as a result of using the more expensive treatment regimen were estimated as 46 183.47 PLN. Conclusions. The comparison of the two treatment regimens for colorectal cancer in stage III and IV, which were used in the Oncology Centre in Bydgoszcz, showed that the more expensive but more efficient treatment was FOLFOX4.