Financial toxicity and non-small cell lung cancer treatment: The optimization in the choice of immune check point inhibitors

Abstract

Background/Aim: Immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) are changing cancer treatment in several malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The introduction of these active new agents is associated with a relevant increase of costs and it is, therefore, important to create a balance between the costs of treatment and the added value represented by the improvement of the clinical parameters of interest such as overall survival (OS). This analysis was conducted to assess the pharmacological costs of first- and second-line treatments with ICIs (pembrolizumab, nivolumab and atezolizumab) for metastatic NSCLC. Materials and Methods: The present evaluation was restricted to phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We calculated the pharmacological costs necessary to get the benefit in OS. Results: Six phase III RCTs were evaluated. Concerning first-line, the lowest cost per month of OS-gain was associated with the use of pembrolizumab at 2,734 €. Concerning second-line, the lowest cost per month of OS-gain was associated with the use of atezolizumab at 3,724 €. Conclusion: Pembrolizumab and atezolizumab are cost-effective in both first and second-line treatment for metastatic NSCLC, respectively.