The cost-effectiveness of mixed beam neutron-photon radiation therapy in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the prostate

The results of clinical trials in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the pr ostate using, mixed beam neutron/photon therapy, neutrons alone and photon therapy in combination with hormone treatment are compared. These trials in dicate that neutron therapy is superior to photon/hormone therapy in achiev ing local control. The costs of delivering these two different therapies in a large US academic radiation oncology center at Wayne State University (W SU) are compared. The cost of a full course of mixed beam therapy is $ 20,1 42 compared to $ 18,871 for the photon/hormone treatment. Although the WSU neutron facility is a state-of-the-art installation, it is also a prototype device; it is estimated that a modern neutron facility based on this desig n would operate more cost effectively reducing the cost of a course of mixe d beam therapy to $ 18,532.