Cost-effective models for flutamide for prostate carcinoma patients: Are they helpful to policy makers?

BACKGROUND: More than 50, 000 male patients received hormonal therapy for metastatic prostate carcinoma in 1995. Nonsteroidal antiandrogens, such as flutamide, when used in conjunction with castration, are effective in prolonging the time to progression of disease and survival. Only one-third of newly diagnosed patients with metastatic prostate carcinoma receive flutamide. Physicians may be reluctant to prescribe flutamide because of quality of life, toxicity, and cost considerations. METHODS: Physician focus groups evaluated quality of life factors for metastatic prostate cancer. RESULTS: Using quality of life estimates with the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) 0036 clinical trial results, our revised model of flutamide use predicted that, for minimal disease, survival increased by 4. 33 quality adjusted months (QAMs) at an incremental cost of 25, 000 per quality adjusted life year (QALY) saved and for severe disease, survival increased by 4. 11 QAM at a cost of 18, 000 per QALY saved. However, if quality of life estimates are used in conjunction with the Prostate Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group (PCTCG) meta-analysis estimates, survival increased by 2. 1 QAM at an incremental cost of 41, 000 per QALY saved for persons with severe disease and increased by 2. 6 QAM at an incremental cost of 53, 700 per QALY saved for persons with minimal disease. CONCLUSIONS: Using NCI 0036 trial data, flutamide has an incremental cost-effectiveness more favorable than most therapies, while estimates based on the PCTCG found a less favorable outcome for the drug. Concerns about out-of-pocket expenditures and efficacy limit flutamide utilization; quality of life considerations are less cogent.