Treatment Patterns and Cost-Effectiveness of Chemotherapy Treatments among Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients
Abstract
This study examines the cost-effectiveness of the most-commonly used chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of gastric cancer. Although researchers have studied the cost-effectiveness of drugs used for the treatment of other types of cancer, no studies have examined the comparative cost-effectiveness of gastric cancer treatment regimens utilizing treatment patterns as the identifying methodology. Leucovorin + Fluorouracil (5-FU/LV), Carboplatin + Paclitaxel (CarboTaxol), and Fluorouracil (5-FU) were the most-commonly administered chemotherapy regimens during the period of 1999 to 2013. The use of Fluorouracil-containing regimens declined over time, while Carboplatin + Paclitaxel increased in use. Despite its increase in popularity, Carboplatin + Paclitaxel was estimated to increase all-cause mortality relative to Leucovorin + Fluorouracil. The receipt of Carboplatin + Paclitaxel was also associated with a higher total cost of treatment than Leucovorin + Fluorouracil. These negative results associated with the use of Carboplatin + Paclitaxel raise questions about the shift in treatment away from Fluorouracil-containing regimens in favor of Carboplatin + Paclitaxel, and the study discusses some possible reasoning behind the decision.
Subject Area
Biostatistics|Economics|Medicine|Health care management|Oncology
Recommended Citation
Haag, Austin Jade, "Treatment Patterns and Cost-Effectiveness of Chemotherapy Treatments among Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients" (2017). Texas Medical Center Dissertations (via ProQuest). AAI10280096.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dissertations/AAI10280096