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Home  >  Medical Research Archives  >  Issue 149  > Considering the Costs of Targeted Radionuclide Therapies in Prostate Cancer
Published in the Medical Research Archives
Mar 2024 Issue

Considering the Costs of Targeted Radionuclide Therapies in Prostate Cancer

Published on Mar 26, 2024

DOI 

Abstract

 

There is no denying the importance of prostate cancer as a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in men. As such, it represents an important driver of healthcare costs and there is a (mostly unmet) need to provide evidence that assists decision-makers in prioritizing one management strategy over another in budget planning.

Theranostics in prostate cancer represents a non-invasive out-patient strategy for patient management, which consists of imaging with a PSMA-based agent, followed by targeted radionuclide therapy with either a beta emitter (such as Lutetium-177) or an alpha emitter (such as Actinium-225). Evidence for these management approaches is mounting with FDA approval of imaging and therapy agents following landmark trials like the ProPSMA study, the VISION- and the TheraP trial. 

Despite the explosion in publications on the use of targeted radionuclide therapies in prostate cancer, studies that compare the cost-effectiveness of available nuclear medicine imaging and treatment strategies remain hard to find. The aim of this mini review was to summarize the most important current evidence related to cost-effectiveness strategies that evaluate imaging and targeted radionuclide therapies for PSMA-based PET theranostics.

We found a paucity of literature that deals with healthcare costs, with an obvious need for more cost-effectiveness studies to demonstrate the positive impact of nuclear medicine in the management of oncology (and other) patients. These studies need to be based on well-conducted clinical trials and meta-analyses, with appropriate model simulations and decision analysis and should ideally be reported according to the CHEERS 2022 guidelines to improve uniformity and robustness.

Author info

M Vorster, A Mallum, M Sathekge, T Pascual

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