Cost-effectiveness of adjuvant docetaxel for node-positive breast cancer patients: results of the PACS 01 economic study

Annals of Oncology Advance Access, 21 juillet 2010, n° 7, 1448-1454

P. Marino, C. Siani, H. Roché, C. Protière, P. Fumoleau, M. Spielmann, A-L. Martin, P. Viens, A-G. Le Corroller Soriano

Purpose

Using data from the PACS 01 randomized trial, we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of anthracyclines plus docetaxel (Taxotere; FEC-D) versus anthracyclines alone (FEC100) in patients with node-positive breast cancer.

Patients and Methods

Costs and outcomes were assessed in 1996 patients and the incremental costeffectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated, using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) as outcome. To deal with uncertainty due to sampling fluctuations, confidence regions around the ICERs were calculated and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves were drawn up. Sensitivity analyses were also carried out to assess the robustness of conclusions.

Results

The mean cost of treatment was 33% higher with strategy FEC-D, but this difference decreased to 18% at a 5-year horizon. The ICER of FEC-D versus FEC100 was estimated to be 9665€ per QALY gained (95% confidence interval €2372–€55 515). The estimated probability that FEC-D was cost-effective reached >96% for a threshold of €50 000 per QALY gained. If the price of taxane decreased slightly, the ICER would reach some very reasonable levels and this strategy would therefore be much more cost-effective.

Conclusion

The sequential use of FEC100 followed by docetaxel appears to be a cost-effective alternative, even when uncertainty is taken into account.

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