The pharmacological costs of complete liver resections in unselected advanced colorectal cancer patients: a review of published Phase II and III trials.

Abstract

The pharmacological costs of regimens used as front-line therapy in advanced colorectal cancer patients and their impact on the liver resection rates have not been considered. In this paper, we made a review of published randomized Phase II and III trials that reported the liver resection rates following upfront chemotherapy and linked this outcome to the pharmacological costs of drugs used. The costs are calculated based on the price at Pharmacy of our Hospital in Legnago (Italy), and as a measure of activity, we used the number of patients needed to treat to get one complete liver resection. Number needed to treat is highly variable among the different trials according to patient's characteristics, tumor biology and the efficacy of chemotherapy administered. The range of activity is greatly amplified when the costs are compared.

• Authors: Jacopo Giuliani, Anna Mercanti, Silvia Muraro, Anna Rita Trolese, Emilia Durante, Filippo Greco, Paolo Piacentini, Michele Tognetto, Andrea Bonetti
• Journal: Expert review of pharmacoeconomics & outcomes research (Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res) Vol. 15 Issue 1 Pg. 101-10 (Feb 2015) ISSN: 1744-8379 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25399933 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (economics, therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
• Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
• Colorectal Neoplasms (pathology)
• Drug Costs
• Humans
• Italy
• Liver Neoplasms (economics, secondary, therapy)