Economic evaluation of 21-gene reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay in lymph-node-negative, estrogen-receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer in Japan

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Nov;112(1):175-87. doi: 10.1007/s10549-007-9842-y. Epub 2007 Dec 13.

Abstract

The 21-gene reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay with a patented algorithm is validated as a good predictor of prognosis and potential benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy for lymph-node-negative, estrogen-receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer, while its high cost raises concern about how to finance it. Cost-effectiveness analysis comparing prevalent National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline/St Gallen recommendation-guided treatment with the assay-guided treatment is carried out with budget impact estimation in the context of Japan's health care system. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios are estimated as 2,997,495 yen/QALY (26,065 US$/QALY) in the comparison between NCCN guided-treatment vs. the assay-guided treatment, and as 1,239,055 yen/QALY (10,774 US$/QALY) in the comparison between St Gallen guided-treatment vs. the assay-guided treatment. Budget impact is estimated as yen2,638 million (US$23 million) to yen3,225 million (US$28 million) per year. The routine use of the assay is indicated as cost-effective. And the budget impact could be judged as within fundable level.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / economics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Decision Trees
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / economics*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Estrogen