P1-10-06: Economic Analysis of Chemotherapy Costs for Adjuvant Therapy in Breast Cancer in France.
Authors: Chereau E , Vataire A-L , Laas E , Genin A-S , Aballéa S , Rouzier R 
Published: June 2012

Background: Total costs of adjuvant chemotherapy can be estimated using different perspectives. To date, only few studies are available in France and only few of these studies have incorporated all the relevant cost items. Indeed the total cost of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer should include not only the drug costs and their administration but also supportive care, transportation and part of the work absenteeism, because all these costs are borne by the French social security. The study objective was to estimate the total costs of adjuvant chemotherapy in France using two different perspectives: the French social security and society.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study to calculate the total cost of first line adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer in France. We developed an electronic CRF to collect clinical data, chemotherapy drug details, side effects and personal data such as the type of transportation from home to hospital for chemotherapy treatments and duration of work absenteeism. We added the cost of medical consultations, radiology and biology. We also calculated the exact cost of paramedical time and material. All data were collected after patient's acceptance from clinical records and by phone. Medical resource data were collected from patients’ files for which data were recorded in February 2010 in Tenon hospital (Paris). Unit costs were collected from the French medical insurance database, and other public sources such as national statistics and the technical agency for hospitalization information.

Results: We collected data from 30 patients who had adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Median age was 57.7 years and 37.9% of patients had a regular work. Using the social security perspective, the mean cost (+/− SD) for pre chemotherapy exams and management (biology, oncologist consultation, implantable port system) was €320 +/−€32. For each chemotherapy cycle, the costs of chemotherapy drugs, preventive medications and chemotherapy administration were €1267 +/− €1424. The cost of chemotherapy adverse events was €405 +/− €829 and €39 +/− €28 for usual monitoring of chemotherapy (biology tests and medical consultations). Transportation costs were estimated at €11 +/− €12 and sick leave payments at €445 +/− €521. The mean total cost per cycle was €1806 +/− €1226 per chemotherapy cycle and €12724 +/− €8426 for the whole adjuvant chemotherapy regimen. Using a broader societal perspective, the total cost of chemotherapy was €14668 +/− €9707 per patient, as it included the full cost of lost productivity due to work absenteeism.

Conclusion: We reported the first cost analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer in France using two different perspectives (the French social security and the society). Using the social security perspective, chemotherapy drugs and their administration accounted for 70% of the total cost of chemotherapy against 60% when using the societal perspective.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-10-06.