Cost Analysis of Capecitabine vs 5-Fluorouracil-Based Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients

The aim was to evaluate the cost of capecitabine vs conventional combination chemotherapics such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in Italy. The study was a multicenter, retrospective longitudinal treatment-cost analysis. Patients older than 18 years, diagnosis of mCRC and at least 3 completed cycles of chemotherapy with oral capecitabine or 5-FU also in association with other chemotherapic agents were enrolled. Direct healthcare resources attributable to mCRC treatment were quantified using 2007 prices and tariffs. The analysis was conducted from the National Health Service perspective with a 6-month time horizon. A total of 231 patients affected by mCRC (55% males; mean age 63.7 +/- 10.31 yrs) were studied. Total direct costs per patient per month in capecitabine and 5-FU groups were (sic)1,001.66 +/- (sic)434.93 and (sic)3,172.81 +/- (sic)1,232.37 respectively (p<0.0001). Oral capecitabine therapy cost the health service less than intravenous therapies.