A cost analysis of first-line chemotherapy for low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. 2012

Neel T Shah, and Lisa Barroilhet, and Ross S Berkowitz, and Donald P Goldstein, and Neil Horowitz
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New England Trophoblastic Disease Center, Trophoblastic Disease Registry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. neel@post.harvard.edu

OBJECTIVE To determine the optimal approach to first-line treatment for low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) using a cost analysis of 3 commonly used regimens. METHODS A decision tree of the 3 most commonly used first-line low-risk GTN treatment strategies was created, accounting for toxicities, response rates and need for second- or third-line therapy. These strategies included 8-day methotrexate (MTX)/folinic acid, weekly MTX, and pulsed actinomycin-D (act-D). Response rates, average number of cycles needed for remission, and toxicities were determined by review of the literature. Costs of each strategy were examined from a societal perspective, including the direct total treatment costs as well as the indirect lost labor production costs from work absences. Sensitivity analysis on these costs was performed using both deterministic and probabilistic cost-minimization models with the aid of decision tree software (TreeAge Pro 2011, TreeAge Inc., Williamstown, Massachusetts). RESULTS We found that 8-day MTX/folinic acid is the least expensive to society, followed by pulsed act-D ($4,867 vs. $6,111 average societal cost per cure, respectively), with act-D becoming more favorable only with act-D per-cycle cost <$231, or response rate to first-line therapy > 99%. Weekly MTX is the most expensive first-line treatment strategy to society ($9,089 average cost per cure), despite being least expensive to administer per cycle, based on lower first-line response rate. Absolute societal cost of each strategy is driven by the probability of needing expensive third-line multiagent chemotherapy, however relative cost differences are robust to sensitivity analysis over the reported range of cycle number and response rate for all therapies. CONCLUSIONS Based on similar efficacy and lower societal cost, we recommend 8-day MTX/folinic acid for first-line treatment of low-risk GTN.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008727 Methotrexate An antineoplastic antimetabolite with immunosuppressant properties. It is an inhibitor of TETRAHYDROFOLATE DEHYDROGENASE and prevents the formation of tetrahydrofolate, necessary for synthesis of thymidylate, an essential component of DNA. Amethopterin,Methotrexate Hydrate,Methotrexate Sodium,Methotrexate, (D)-Isomer,Methotrexate, (DL)-Isomer,Methotrexate, Dicesium Salt,Methotrexate, Disodium Salt,Methotrexate, Sodium Salt,Mexate,Dicesium Salt Methotrexate,Hydrate, Methotrexate,Sodium, Methotrexate
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D002955 Leucovorin The active metabolite of FOLIC ACID. Leucovorin is used principally as an antidote to FOLIC ACID ANTAGONISTS. Calcium Leucovorin,Citrovorum Factor,Folinic Acid,N(5)-Formyltetrahydrofolate,5-Formyltetrahydrofolate,5-Formyltetrahydropteroylglutamate,Calcium Folinate,Folinic Acid-SF,Leucovorin, (D)-Isomer,Leucovorin, (DL)-Isomer,Leucovorin, (R)-Isomer,Leucovorin, Calcium (1:1) Salt,Leucovorin, Calcium (1:1) Salt, (DL)-Isomer,Leucovorin, Calcium (1:1) Salt, Pentahydrate,Leucovorin, Monosodium Salt,Leukovorin,Leukovorum,Wellcovorin,5 Formyltetrahydrofolate,5 Formyltetrahydropteroylglutamate,Acid, Folinic,Factor, Citrovorum,Folinate, Calcium,Folinic Acid SF,Leucovorin, Calcium,Monosodium Salt Leucovorin
D003365 Costs and Cost Analysis Absolute, comparative, or differential costs pertaining to services, institutions, resources, etc., or the analysis and study of these costs. Affordability,Analysis, Cost,Cost,Cost Analysis,Cost Comparison,Cost Measures,Cost-Minimization Analysis,Costs and Cost Analyses,Costs, Cost Analysis,Pricing,Affordabilities,Analyses, Cost,Analyses, Cost-Minimization,Analysis, Cost-Minimization,Comparison, Cost,Comparisons, Cost,Cost Analyses,Cost Comparisons,Cost Measure,Cost Minimization Analysis,Cost, Cost Analysis,Cost-Minimization Analyses,Costs,Measure, Cost,Measures, Cost
D003609 Dactinomycin A compound composed of a two CYCLIC PEPTIDES attached to a phenoxazine that is derived from STREPTOMYCES parvullus. It binds to DNA and inhibits RNA synthesis (transcription), with chain elongation more sensitive than initiation, termination, or release. As a result of impaired mRNA production, protein synthesis also declines after dactinomycin therapy. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1993, p2015) Actinomycin,Actinomycin D,Meractinomycin,Cosmegen,Cosmegen Lyovac,Lyovac-Cosmegen,Lyovac Cosmegen,Lyovac, Cosmegen,LyovacCosmegen
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000903 Antibiotics, Antineoplastic Chemical substances, produced by microorganisms, inhibiting or preventing the proliferation of neoplasms. Antineoplastic Antibiotics,Cytotoxic Antibiotics,Antibiotics, Cytotoxic
D000964 Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic Antimetabolites that are useful in cancer chemotherapy. Antineoplastic Antimetabolites
D000970 Antineoplastic Agents Substances that inhibit or prevent the proliferation of NEOPLASMS. Anticancer Agent,Antineoplastic,Antineoplastic Agent,Antineoplastic Drug,Antitumor Agent,Antitumor Drug,Cancer Chemotherapy Agent,Cancer Chemotherapy Drug,Anticancer Agents,Antineoplastic Drugs,Antineoplastics,Antitumor Agents,Antitumor Drugs,Cancer Chemotherapy Agents,Cancer Chemotherapy Drugs,Chemotherapeutic Anticancer Agents,Chemotherapeutic Anticancer Drug,Agent, Anticancer,Agent, Antineoplastic,Agent, Antitumor,Agent, Cancer Chemotherapy,Agents, Anticancer,Agents, Antineoplastic,Agents, Antitumor,Agents, Cancer Chemotherapy,Agents, Chemotherapeutic Anticancer,Chemotherapy Agent, Cancer,Chemotherapy Agents, Cancer,Chemotherapy Drug, Cancer,Chemotherapy Drugs, Cancer,Drug, Antineoplastic,Drug, Antitumor,Drug, Cancer Chemotherapy,Drug, Chemotherapeutic Anticancer,Drugs, Antineoplastic,Drugs, Antitumor,Drugs, Cancer Chemotherapy

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