Cost implications of reactive versus prospective testing for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency in patients with colorectal cancer: A single-institution experience
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Published version
Date
2018-10-01
Authors
Murphy, Con
Byrne, Stephen
Ahmed, Gul
Kenny, Andrew
Gallagher, James
Harvey, Harry
O'Farrell, Eoin
Bird, Brian
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sage Publications Ltd
Published Version
Abstract
Background:Severe toxicity is experienced by a substantial minority of patients receiving fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, with approximately 20% of these severe toxicities attributable to polymorphisms in the DPYD gene. The DPYD codes for the enzyme dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) important in the metabolism of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. We questioned whether prospective DPYD mutation analysis in all patients commencing such therapy would prove more cost-effective than reactive testing of patients experiencing severe toxicity.Methods:All patients experiencing severe toxicity from fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in an Irish private hospital over a 3-year period were tested for 4 DPYD polymorphisms previously associated with toxicity. The costs associated with an index admission for toxicity in DPD-deficient patients were examined. A cost analysis was undertaken comparing the anticipated cost of implementing screening for DPYD mutations versus current usual care. One-way sensitivity analysis was conducted on known input variables. An alternative scenario analysis from the perspective of the Irish health-care payer (responsible for public hospitals) was also performed.Results:Of 134 patients commencing first-line fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy over 3 years, 30 (23%) patients developed grade 3/4 toxicity. Of these, 17% revealed heterozygote DPYD mutations. The cost of hospitalization for the DPYD-mutated patients was ?232 061, while prospectively testing all 134 patients would have cost ?23 718. Prospective testing would result in cost savings across all scenarios.Conclusions:The cost of hospital admission for severe chemotherapy-related toxicity is significantly higher than the cost of prospective DPYD testing of each patient commencing fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy.
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Keywords
DPYD , Fluoropyrimidine , Colorectal cancer , Cost-effectiveness , Pharmacogenomics
Citation
Murphy, C., Byrne, S., Ahmed, G., Kenny, A., Gallagher, J., Harvey, H., O’Farrell, E. and Bird, B., 2018. Cost implications of reactive versus prospective testing for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency in patients with colorectal cancer: a single-institution experience. Dose-Response, 16(4), (1559325818803042). DOI:10.1177/1559325818803042