An Evaluation of Pharmacologic Costs of Complete Liver Resections in Unselected Advanced Colorectal Cancer Patients.

e17551 Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the pharmacological costs of conversion chemotherapy in an unselected population of advanced colorectal cancer patients. Methods: Phase III studies evaluating chemotherapy regimens for advanced colorectal cancer patients were considered. The percentage of reported complete liver resection in each arm was used to calculate the number of patients needed to treat (NNT) to get a complete liver resection. This number was multiplied by the number of cycles administered before the resection (assuming 6 cycles for biweekly chemotherapy or 4 cycles for chemotherapy given every three weeks). Calculation is based on an “ideal patient” (BSA 1.8 sqm; weight 70 Kg).The costs of drugs are at the Pharmacy of our hospital and are expressed in €. Results: Results are summarized in the Table. Conclusions: The pharmacological costs to obtain a complete resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer varies widely across the different chemotherapy regimens commonly used and is influenced by the efficacy of the treatment and by the costs of drugs used. Schemes containing a “biological” are associated with an increased of costs. [Table: see text]