Cost-utility of adjuvant hormone therapies with aromatase inhibitors in post-menopausal women with breast cancer: upfront anastrozole, sequential tamoxifen-exemestane and extended tamoxifen-letrozole

Breast. 2007 Jun;16(3):252-61. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2006.12.002. Epub 2007 Jan 4.

Abstract

This evaluation adapts a previous Canadian analysis of upfront and sequential adjuvant AI strategies in postmenopausal women with breast cancer to a Belgian perspective and includes an extended aromatase inhibitor (AI) strategy. A Markov model calculated monthly costs and outcomes in a hypothetical cohort of postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. Baseline event rates and hazard ratios were derived from the Arimidex, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination trial, International Exemestane Study and MA.17 trials. The analysis took a Belgian healthcare payer perspective with a 20-year time horizon. Costs and outcomes were discounted by 3%. Costs are in 2005 Euros. The cost-utility of all three strategies was favourable (<30,000 euros per QALY gained). Based on indirect comparisons using tamoxifen (TAM) alone as a common comparator, sequential TAM-AI was less costly and more effective than upfront or extended strategies. All three AI strategies were cost-effective alternatives to TAM alone, but sequential TAM-AI appears to be the economically preferred strategy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anastrozole
  • Androstadienes / administration & dosage
  • Androstadienes / economics
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / economics*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / economics*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / economics*
  • Belgium
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / economics
  • Canada
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Drug Costs
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Letrozole
  • Markov Chains
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitriles / administration & dosage
  • Nitriles / economics
  • Postmenopause
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Quality-Adjusted Life Years
  • Tamoxifen / administration & dosage
  • Tamoxifen / economics
  • Triazoles / administration & dosage
  • Triazoles / economics

Substances

  • Androstadienes
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Nitriles
  • Triazoles
  • Tamoxifen
  • Anastrozole
  • Letrozole
  • exemestane