Radiotherapy & Oncology
Volume 89, Issue 2 , Pages 127-134, November 2008

Cost-effectiveness of particle therapy: Current evidence and future needs

  • Madelon Pijls-Johannesma

      Affiliations

    • Maastricht Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO Clinic), University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Madelon Pijls-Johannesma, Maastricht Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO Clinic), University Medical Center, Dr. Tanslaan 12, Postbus 5800, 6229 ET Maastricht, The Netherlands.
    • ,
  • Pascal Pommier

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
    • ,
  • Yolande Lievens

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

Received 28 April 2008; received in revised form 15 July 2008; accepted 16 July 2008. published online 19 August 2008.

Abstract 

Purpose

Questions are being raised regarding the cost of particle therapy (PT), and with them criticism that PT is too expensive to allow the expected gain in effectiveness. This paper aims to get more insight in the cost and cost-effectiveness of particle therapy and to discuss a future strategy that allows for critical assessment of this health technology.

Material and methods

A systematic literature review based on an earlier published comprehensive review was performed and updated until June 1st 2008. Besides, current business plans of PT projects were examined. Additionally, results retrieved from a cost-simulation tool developed under auspice of the ENLIGHT were discussed.

Results

The current literature on cost-effectiveness of PT is scarce, non-comparable, and largely not performed according to standard health technology assessment criteria. Besides, different perspectives for cost evaluations have been used, making it difficult to compare and to determine the relative impact in terms of costs for this new treatment modality.

Conclusions

Evidence on the cost-effectiveness of PT is scarce. Adequate reimbursement is necessary to support such innovative yet costly treatments. For now, model-based economic evaluations performed at least from a health care perspective may help us to gain evidence-based insight into cost-effectiveness.

Keywords: Particles, Hadron, Ion, Proton, Radiotherapy, Cost-effectiveness, Reimbursement

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PII: S0167-8140(08)00380-0

doi:10.1016/j.radonc.2008.07.015

Radiotherapy & Oncology
Volume 89, Issue 2 , Pages 127-134, November 2008

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