Another study has been released regarding the cost-effectiveness of an esoteric molecular test, slowly bolstering the economic case for using such assays. The latest study, published in the Journal of Medical Economics, focused on the San Diego-based firm bioTheranostics and its CancerTYPE ID assay for metastatic cancer. The study, which was conducted by researchers with the Los Angeles-area Partnership for Health Analytic Research, focused not only on whether the test improved cancer diagnosis, but also on a variety of economic issues related to oncology care, including annual costs and quality of life for a patient undergoing treatment. The study took into account patients with eight common cancers: breast, colon and rectum, kidney and renal pelvis, liver and intrahepatic bile duct, lung and bronchus, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate. The study concluded that the bioTheranostics’ test increased the proportion of patients with metastatic cancer of unknown origin who were treated correctly to 81 percent from 58 percent, decreased the proportion of patients treated incorrectly to 15 percent from 29 percent, and increased survival time adjusted for quality of life by 1.15 months. But perhaps more significant, using the test appeared to keep the costs of care in line. According to the study, […]
Another study has been released regarding the cost-effectiveness of an esoteric molecular test, slowly bolstering the economic case for using such assays.
The latest study, published in the Journal of Medical Economics, focused on the San Diego-based firm bioTheranostics and its CancerTYPE ID assay for metastatic cancer.
The study, which was conducted by researchers with the Los Angeles-area Partnership for Health Analytic Research, focused not only on whether the test improved cancer diagnosis, but also on a variety of economic issues related to oncology care, including annual costs and quality of life for a patient undergoing treatment. The study took into account patients with eight common cancers: breast, colon and rectum, kidney and renal pelvis, liver and intrahepatic bile duct, lung and bronchus, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate.
The study concluded that the bioTheranostics’ test increased the proportion of patients with metastatic cancer of unknown origin who were treated correctly to 81 percent from 58 percent, decreased the proportion of patients treated incorrectly to 15 percent from 29 percent, and increased survival time adjusted for quality of life by 1.15 months.
But perhaps more significant, using the test appeared to keep the costs of care in line. According to the study, using the test helps keep the cost-effectiveness of treating a cancer patient at $50,273 for a year, adjusted for quality of life. According to a statement issued by bioTheranostics, society as a whole accepts up to $100,000 a year per patient for oncology care, when adjusted for quality of life.
The costs do go up if the test is used prior to using a common set of six immunohistochemical stains. However, the proportion of patients correctly diagnosed rises to 83 percent.
“This study reinforces that CancerTYPE ID is associated with improved diagnosis and outcomes for metastatic cancer patients and that it is cost-effective—providing clinical benefit at a reasonable cost,” said bioTheranostics Chief Executive Officer Richard Ding.
Takeaway: bioTheranostics is the latest esoteric laboratory to release a study claiming an economic benefit to using its test.
