Cost-effectiveness analysis of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) in patients with gastric cancer and peritoneal metastasis

Eur J Surg Oncol. 2022 Jan;48(1):188-196. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2021.08.024. Epub 2021 Aug 28.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy with low-dose cisplatin and doxorubicin (PIPAC C/D) for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

Methods: A Partitioned Survival Model followed by state transition Markov model was developed to estimate the costs and effectiveness of the use of PIPAC C/D versus palliative chemotherapy in the UK. The intervention was assessed at two different levels of care, including upfront therapy (PIPAC C/D plus Oxaliplatin in combination with Capecitabine (XELOX) chemotherapy versus first-line chemotherapy alone) and second-line therapy (PIPAC C/D alone versus second-line chemotherapy (ramucirumab monotherapy)). Data from multiple sources, including published literature and UK-based databases, were used to inform the economic model.

Results: For the upfront therapy analysis, the estimated total costs in the intervention and comparator arms were £32,606 (SD: £3877) and £17,844 (SD: £920), respectively. PIPAC C/D plus XELOX led to an increase of 0.46 in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained. The incremental cost per QALY gained was £31,868. For the second-line therapy analysis, the use of PIPAC C/D led to an increase of 0.19 in QALYs and a £21,474 reduction in costs, meaning the intervention was a dominant strategy.

Conclusions: The cost-effectiveness results for the upfront therapy analysis indicate that PIPAC C/D plus chemotherapy is a cost-effective strategy. Additionally, PIPAC C/D alone as a second-line therapy has the potential to reduce costs and improve clinical outcomes for patients with advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis.

Keywords: Cost-effectiveness; Gastric cancer; Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy.

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Capecitabine / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma / secondary
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Laparoscopy
  • Oxaloacetates / therapeutic use*
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Quality-Adjusted Life Years
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology*
  • United Kingdom

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Oxaloacetates
  • Capecitabine
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cisplatin

Supplementary concepts

  • XELOX