First-line bevacizumab plus taxane-based chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: cost-minimisation analysis

Anticancer Res. 2012 Aug;32(8):3547-52.

Abstract

Aim: To carry out a cost minimisation analysis including a comparison of the costs arising from first-line treatment by bevacizumab plus docetaxel (BD) versus bevacizumab plus paclitaxel (BP) of patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC).

Patient and methods: All consecutive patients with human epidermal growth receptor 2-negative mBC and treated at Besançon University hospital between 2006 and 2010 by a first-line therapy containing bevacizumab plus taxane were retrospectively studied. Economic analysis took into account costs related to drugs, hospitalization and healthcare travel.

Results: Progression-free survival difference between the two treatments was insignificant (p-value=0.31). BP treatment was associated with a higher mean total cost than that of BD treatment, €53,093 ± 34,395 versus €60,196 ± 48,766, respectively.

Conclusion: Whereas bevacizumab is recommended for first-line treatment of mBC with paclitaxel-based chemotherapy, our study has shown that BD treatment is the most cost-efficient regimen. It could be an attractive option in France, with a potential cost saving of €24,000,000 per year.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / economics
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / economics
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bevacizumab
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds / economics
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Docetaxel
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Taxoids / administration & dosage
  • Taxoids / economics

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds
  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel
  • taxane
  • Bevacizumab