Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression in early breast cancer patients: a Swiss cost-effectiveness analysis of different predictive assay strategies

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2010 Nov;124(2):497-507. doi: 10.1007/s10549-010-0862-7. Epub 2010 Apr 3.

Abstract

Trastuzumab has conferred significant clinical benefits in HER-2-positive breast carcinomas. HER-2 status is determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), but appropriate assessment of HER2 status remains subject to considerable debate. Data on the health economic impact of HER-2 test strategies are limited. A life-long Markov state transition model was used to assess costs and effectiveness of HER-2 assay strategies (based on IHC, FISH, both combined or FISH confirmation of IHC2+) for a hypothetical cohort of early breast cancer patients from the perspective of the Swiss health system. We compared clinically relevant strategies of predictive testing and subsequent trastuzumab treatment of HER-2-positive patients only. FISH testing was the most cost-effective strategy with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €12,245 per additional quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained, compared to no trastuzumab treatment. The next best strategy was parallel IHC and FISH, with costs of €400,154/QALY gained compared to FISH alone. FISH as primary HER-2 testing modality remained the preferred option in deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Predictive testing to identify adjuvant breast cancer patients who benefit from trastuzumab treatment is a clinical and economic necessity. Our model identifies FISH as the most cost-effective approach.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / economics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents / economics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Drug Costs
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / economics*
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / economics*
  • Markov Chains
  • Mass Screening / economics*
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Models, Economic
  • National Health Programs / economics*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Quality-Adjusted Life Years
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / analysis*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Switzerland
  • Trastuzumab
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab