Altered Fractionated Radiotherapy Is Cost-Effective In The Treatment Of Locally Advanced Head And Neck Cancer: An Economic Analysis Of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (Rtog) 90-03.

6007 Background: RTOG 9003 compared altered fractionated radiotherapy (AIFX) to standard radiotherapy (SFX). Overall and disease-free survival was improved in the AIFX schedules but with increased toxicity. The specific aim of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of AIFX to SFX. Methods: Costs data included Medicare Part A and Part B costs from all providers—inpatient, outpatient, skilled nursing facility, home health, hospice, and physicians and other Part B providers were obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for patients treated on RTOG 9003 from 1992–1996. Claims were restricted to those with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer. We calculated 56-month expected discounted costs for each arm of the trial in 1996 dollars, with Kaplan-Meier sampling average estimates of survival probabilities for each month and mean monthly costs. Costs were discounted back to the time of entry onto the trial, using an annual discount rate of 3% and indexed to 1996 dollars using the Consumer Price Index. The analysis was performed from a payer’s perspective. Incremental cost-effective ratios were calculated comparing AIFX schedules to SFX. Results: Of the 1,130 patients entered, 1,073 patients were analyzable for outcomes and Medicare cost data and clinical outcomes were available for 130 patients. The expected mean 56-month cost and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) compared to SFX are presented in the table . Sensitivity analysis and 95% confidence ellipses will be presented. Conclusions: Although more toxic altered fractionated radiotherapy schedules were found to be cost-effective using a willingness to pay of $50,000/life year in patients >65 years old. These results need to be confirmed in a cohort of younger patients. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.