Cost-effectiveness of cetuximab in combination with irinotecan compared with current care in metastatic colorectal cancer after failure on irinotecan--a Belgian analysis.

Author(s): Annemans L, Van Cutsem E, Humblet Y, Van Laethem JL, Bleiberg H

Affiliation(s): Ghent University, Belgium. lieven.annemans@ugent.be

Publication date & source: 2007-11, Acta Clin Belg., 62(6):419-25.

Publication type:

This analysis compared the cost-effectiveness in Belgium of cetuximab plus irinotecan with current current care in the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has failed irinotecan-containing therapy. Treatment outcomes and medical resource use data for patients receiving cetuximab plus irinotecan from the BOND study were compared with those from a matched group of patients (current care) (n = 66). Two scenarios were considered in which cetuximab was discontinued either at 6 weeks or at 12 weeks if there was no tumour response at those time points. Cost-effectiveness was expressed in Euros as the additional cost per additional life year gained (LYG) (referred to as the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER)). For the 6-week rule, the ICERs were Euro 17000 compared with current care. For the 12-week rule, the ICER was Euro 40000 /LYG. Sensitivity analyses revealed that, in the worst case, considering all assumptions against the cetuximab combination, the maximum ICER is Euro 30000 or Euro 59000. In conclusion, cetuximab plus irinotecan for patients with metastatic CRC, after failure on irinotecan-containing chemotherapy, is rather cost-effective compared with current care in both scenarios tested.