The economic burden of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) had been reported to be significant in a previous review published in 2011.
The objective of this study was to perform an updated review by synthesizing economic studies related to the treatment of RCC that have been published since the previous review.
We performed a literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, covering English-language studies published between June 2010 and August 2018. We categorized these articles by type of analyses [cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), cost analysis, and cost of illness (COI)] and treatment setting (cancer status and treatment), discussed findings from these articles, and synthesized information from each article in summary tables.
We identified 52 studies from 2317 abstracts/titles deemed relevant from the initial search, including 21 CEA, 23 cost analysis, and 8 COI studies. For localized RCC, costs were found to be positively associated with the aggressiveness of the local treatment. For metastatic RCC (mRCC), pazopanib was reported to be cost effective in the first-line setting. We also found that the economic burden of RCC has increased over time.
RCC continues to impose a substantial economic burden to the healthcare system. Despite the large number of treatment alternatives now available for advanced RCC, the cost effectiveness and budgetary impact of many new agents remain unknown and warrant greater attention in future research.
PharmacoEconomics. 2018 Nov 23 [Epub ahead of print]
Chun-Ru Chien, Daniel M Geynisman, Bumyang Kim, Ying Xu, Ya-Chen Tina Shih
Department of Radiation Oncology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan., Department of Medical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA., Section of Cancer Economics and Policy, Department of Health Services Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 1444, Houston, TX, 77030, USA., Section of Cancer Economics and Policy, Department of Health Services Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 1444, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .