Pharmaco-economic study of intensive chemotherapy with peripheral blood progenitor cell support for advanced breast cancer

Patients with high-risk breast cancer may benefit from dose-escalated chemo therapy. The rationale for high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell rescue (HD C-SCR) in breast cancer is based on the principles of dose response and dos e intensity. However, several results of property randomized and prospectiv e studies are necessary to determine the interest of HDC-SCR. The objective of this study, realised in the Anticancer Center of Montpellier, was to ev aluate the cost of this type of transplantation. In this retrospective Stud y, we analysed 30 patients treated for an advanced breast cancer between Oc tober 1995 and June 1998. We collected the data from the induction chemothe rapy cycle (followed by cytapheresis) to the end of the hospitalisation for autograft. The mean total cost was US$25845 per patient: US$6453 for drugs , US$4720 for transfusions, US$1865 for laboratory services and blood tests , US$5585 for staff pay, US$774 for material, US$1211 for administration co st, US$1111 for logistic cost, US$998 for structure cost and US$1578 for ot her. Antibiotics, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, chemotherapy, tran sfusions and nutrition represent respectively 18% (US$1962), 14% (US$1590), 13% (US$1437), 42% (US$4720), 11% (US$1191) of the medication and blood pr oducts cost. The results of this study may help in identifying targets for cost reduction.