Cost-effectiveness analysis of FOLFIRINOX vs gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel as adjuvant treatment for resected pancreatic cancer in the United States based on PRODIGE-24 and APACT trials

J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2021 Oct;27(10):1367-1375. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2021.27.10.1367.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is associated with low median overall survival. Combination chemotherapy regimens FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel (GemNab) are the new adjuvant treatment standards for resectable pancreatic cancer. PRODIGE-24 and APACT trials demonstrated superior clinical outcomes with FOLFIRINOX and GemNab, each vs gemcitabine monotherapy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of FOLFIRINOX vs GemNab for resectable pancreatic cancer in adults from the U.S. payer perspective, in order to inform decision makers about which of these treatments is optimal. METHODS: A Markov model with 3 disease states (relapse free, progressive disease, and death) was developed. Cycle length was 1 month, and time horizon was 10 years. Transition probabilities were derived from PRODIGE-24 and APACT survival data. All cost and utility input parameters were obtained from published literature. Cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to obtain total costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), life-years (LYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). A 3% annual discount rate was applied to costs and outcomes. The effect of uncertainty on model parameters was assessed with 1-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA). RESULTS: Our analysis estimated that the cost for FOLFIRINOX was $40,831 higher than GemNab ($99,669 vs. $58,837). Despite increased toxicity, FOLFIRINOX was associated with additional 0.18 QALYs and 0.25 LYs compared with GemNab (QALY: 1.65 vs. 1.47; LY: 2.09 vs. 1.84). The ICER for FOLFIRINOX vs GemNab was $226,841 per QALY and $163,325 per LY. FOLFIRINOX was not cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $200,000 per QALY, and this was confirmed by the PSA. CONCLUSIONS: Total monthly cost for FOLFIRINOX was approximately 1.7 times higher than GemNab. If the WTP threshold increases to or above $250,000 per QALY, FOLFIRINOX then becomes a cost-effective treatment option. DISCLOSURES: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Albumins / economics*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / economics*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis / methods
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deoxycytidine / economics
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / economics
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / economics
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Irinotecan / economics
  • Leucovorin / economics
  • Male
  • Markov Chains
  • Oxaliplatin / economics
  • Paclitaxel / economics*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Quality-Adjusted Life Years
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • United States

Substances

  • 130-nm albumin-bound paclitaxel
  • Albumins
  • folfirinox
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Irinotecan
  • Paclitaxel
  • Leucovorin
  • Fluorouracil
  • Gemcitabine