Cost-utility analysis of risk-reducing strategies to prevent breast and ovarian cancer in BRCA-mutation carriers in Switzerland

Screening and Testing for Homologous Recombination Repair Deficiency (HRD) in Breast Cancer: an Overview of the Current Global Landscape

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Homologous recombination repair deficiency (HRD) increases breast cancer susceptibility and influences both prophylactic and active management of breast cancer. This review evaluates HRD testing and the therapeutic implications of HRD in a global context.

RECENT FINDINGS

Ongoing research efforts have highlighted the importance of HRD beyond BRCA1/2 as a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer. However, despite the improved affordability of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and the discovery of PARP inhibitors, economic and geographical barriers in access to HRD testing and breast cancer screening do not allow all patients to benefit from the personalized treatment approach they provide. Advancements in HRD testing modalities and targeted therapeutics enable tailored breast cancer management. However, inequalities in access to testing and optimized treatments are contributing to widening health disparities globally.

Cost-Effectiveness of Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab plus Chemotherapy Followed by Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Patients with High-Risk, Early-Stage, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Switzerland

AIM

This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus placebo followed by adjuvant placebo for patients with high-risk, early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) from a Swiss third-party payer perspective over a lifetime horizon (51 years).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A transition model with four health states (event-free, locoregional recurrence, distant metastasis, and death) was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for the treatment of high-risk, early-stage TNBC. Data were utilized from the KEYNOTE-522 randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03036488). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated, which was reported as cost per life year or quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. A one-way deterministic sensitivity analysis, a probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) and scenario analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the model results.

RESULTS

Base-case results estimated an ICER of 14,114 Swiss francs (CHF)/QALY for pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone. Results were most sensitive to changes in the extrapolation of event-free survival (EFS). All sensitivity and scenario analyses generated ICERs below the willingness-to-pay threshold of CHF100,000/QALY, and the PSA showed a 98.8% probability that the ICER would be below this threshold.

LIMITATIONS

Due to the limited follow-up period in the KEYNOTE-522 trial, EFS data were extrapolated over the lifetime horizon to inform transition probabilities. Extensive validation and scenario analyses ensured the results were robust.

CONCLUSION

The model demonstrated that neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab was cost-effective versus chemotherapy alone in patients with high-risk, early-stage TNBC in Switzerland.

Prevention of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Given the challenges with achieving effective and durable treatment for epithelial ovarian cancer, primary prevention is highly desirable. Fortunately, decades of research have provided evidence for several strategies that can be deployed to optimize risk reduction. These include surgery, chemoprevention, and lifestyle factor modifications. These broad categories vary in terms of the magnitude of risk reduction possible, the possible short-term and long-term side effects, the degree of difficulty, and acceptability. Thus, the concept of a risk-based model to personalize preventive interventions is advocated to guide discussion between care providers and women at risk. For women with inherited major gene mutations that greatly increase risk of ovarian cancer, surgical approaches have favorable risk to benefit ratios. Chemoprevention and lifestyle factor modifications portend a lower degree of risk reduction but confer lower risk of undesirable side effects. Since complete prevention is not currently possible, better methods for early detection remain a high priority.

Prophylactic salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy as a two-staged alternative for primary prevention of ovarian cancer in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: women's point of view

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine BRCA -mutation carrier women's interest and acceptability of participating in a study examining prophylactic salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy (PSDO) as an alternative to the current recommendation for bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for risk reduction.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. All women visiting the high-risk clinics for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in a single tertiary medical center were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning the two-stage approach from October 2018 to December 2019. Before completing the questionnaire, detailed explanation was given by a senior physician regarding the procedure, related background, possible risks, and benefits.

RESULTS

The study population included 293 women, of whom 183 (62.4%) were BRCA1 mutation carriers, 97 (33.1%) were BRCA2 mutation carriers, and 13 (4.4%) had unknown familial mutation. Risk-reducing surgery was completed in 160 (55.17%) of the women. First-degree and second-degree family history was reported in 166 (57.24%) and 52 (17.9%) of the women, respectively. Among women surveyed, more than half of the women (n = 66 [51%]) who had yet to undergo risk-reducing surgery reported interest in having PSDO. Similarly, among those who had already received prophylactic surgery, 64 (40%) also considered PSDO to be an acceptable alternative. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found family history of related malignancies to be the only independent factor associated with reduced interest in a study of PSDO (odds ratio, 0.15 [95% confidence interval, 0.29-0.77]; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, BRCA -mutation carrier women indicated interest in PSDO risk-reducing surgery, taking into consideration the potential additional risk. These findings suggest that a clinical study exploring the equivalence of PSDO as alternative treatment is feasible.

Financial toxicity in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers

OBJECTIVE

Financial toxicity (FT), the cumulative financial burden experienced due to medical care, is a well-established adverse effect of healthcare. Patients with BRCA mutations have significantly increased cancer risks compared to non-affected individuals, requiring more frequent screenings and, at times, prophylactic surgery, increasing their risk for FT. Our primary aim in this study was to describe rates of FT among BRCA carriers.

METHODS

We performed a novel, cross-sectional study of FT in BRCA1/2 carriers. Participants were recruited via phone and/or email to complete consents and surveys on REDCap. The FACIT-COST tool, a validated tool for measuring FT, was used to assess FT; scores were divided into tertiles, with high FT defined as COST score < 24.

RESULTS

265 BRCA positive female participants met enrollment criteria; 76 (28.7%) consented to participate and completed the survey. Participants were primarily non-Hispanic White (97.4%), privately insured (82.9%), and employed full time (67.1%). A significant proportion (22.7%) of participants reported delaying or avoiding care secondary to finances. No statistically significant association was seen between financial toxicity groups and analyzed demographics. Participants with high FT were more likely to engage in all surveyed cost-saving measures, with 41.7% of participants reporting delays/avoidance of care due to cost (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

This study of FT in BRCA carriers shows that financial toxicity exists as an issue in this high-risk patient population. This work serves as the first description of FT in BRCA mutation carriers and highlights the importance of incorporating routine counseling on cost when discussing recommendations for screening and clinical care with this patient population.

Risk-Reducing Breast and Gynecological Surgery for BRCA Mutation Carriers: A Narrative Review

This narrative review aims to clarify the role of breast and gynecological risk-reduction surgery in BRCA mutation carriers. We examine the indications, contraindications, complications, technical aspects, timing, economic impact, ethical issues, and prognostic benefits of the most common prophylactic surgical options from the perspectives of a breast surgeon and a gynecologist. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and EMBASE databases. The databases were explored from their inceptions to August 2022. Three independent reviewers screened the items and selected those most relevant to this review's scope. BRCA1/2 mutation carriers are significantly more likely to develop breast, ovarian, and serous endometrial cancer. Because of the Angelina effect, there has been a significant increase in bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy (BRRM) since 2013. BRRM and risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) significantly reduce the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. RRSO has significant side effects, including an impact on fertility and early menopause (i.e., vasomotor symptoms, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cognitive impairment, and sexual dysfunction). Hormonal therapy can help with these symptoms. Because of the lower risk of developing breast cancer in the residual mammary gland tissue after BRRM, estrogen-only treatments have an advantage over an estrogen/progesterone combined treatment. Risk-reducing hysterectomy allows for estrogen-only treatments and lowers the risk of endometrial cancer. Although prophylactic surgery reduces the cancer risk, it has disadvantages associated with early menopause. A multidisciplinary team must carefully inform the woman who chooses this path of the broad spectrum of implications, from cancer risk reduction to hormonal therapies.

Cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab as an adjuvant treatment for patients with resected stage IIB or IIC melanoma in Switzerland

AIM

To assess the cost-effectiveness of adjuvant pembrolizumab versus observation for patients with resected stage IIB/IIC melanoma from a third-party payers' perspective in Switzerland over a lifetime horizon.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A Markov state transition model with four health states (recurrence-free [RF], locoregional recurrence, distant metastases [DM], and death) was developed to determine the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab versus observation as an adjuvant treatment in patients with stage IIB/IIC melanoma who have undergone complete resection. The model utilized data from the KEYNOTE-716 randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03553836). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) (Swiss Franc [CHF] per life year or quality-adjusted life years [QALYs] gained) was calculated. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis and deterministic sensitivity analysis were conducted to assess the robustness of the base case results.

RESULTS

Model results demonstrated that pembrolizumab is highly cost-effective as an adjuvant treatment for resected stage IIB/IIC melanoma versus observation in Switzerland. Base case results showed an ICER of CHF 27,424/QALY (EUR 27,342/QALY; exchange rate: 1 CHF = 0.997 EUR) for pembrolizumab versus observation. Results were most sensitive to changes to transition probabilities from the RF state. Most sensitivity and scenario analyses resulted in ICERs below the willingness-to-pay threshold (WTP) of CHF 100,000. At this WTP, pembrolizumab had a 78.9% probability of being cost-effective versus observation.

LIMITATIONS

Due to a limited follow-up period in the KEYNOTE-716 trial, data from other clinical trials in the advanced melanoma setting were synthesized in a network meta-analysis and used to inform transition probabilities from DM to death in the cost-effectiveness model, to overcome the absence of these data from the trial.

CONCLUSION

The model demonstrated that pembrolizumab is highly cost-effective versus observation in patients with resected stage IIB/IIC melanoma in Switzerland. The ICER was below the WTP threshold of CHF 100,000, commonly used for cost-effectiveness models in Switzerland.

Cost-Effectiveness of Risk-Reducing Surgery for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Prevention: A Systematic Review

Policymakers require robust cost-effectiveness evidence of risk-reducing-surgery (RRS) for decision making on resource allocation for breast cancer (BC)/ovarian cancer (OC)/endometrial cancer (EC) prevention. We aimed to summarise published data on the cost-effectiveness of risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM)/risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO)/risk-reducing early salpingectomy and delayed oophorectomy (RRESDO) for BC/OC prevention in intermediate/high-risk populations; hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) in Lynch syndrome women; and opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy (OBS) for OC prevention in baseline-risk populations. Major databases were searched until December 2021 following a prospective protocol (PROSPERO-CRD42022338008). Data were qualitatively synthesised following a PICO framework. Twenty two studies were included, with a reporting quality varying from 53.6% to 82.1% of the items scored in the CHEERS checklist. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio/incremental cost-utility ratio and cost thresholds were inflated and converted to US$2020, using the original currency consumer price index (CPI) and purchasing power parities (PPP), for comparison. Eight studies concluded that RRM and/or RRSO were cost-effective compared to surveillance/no surgery for BRCA1/2, while RRESDO was cost-effective compared to RRSO in one study. Three studies found that hysterectomy with BSO was cost-effective compared to surveillance in Lynch syndrome women. Two studies showed that RRSO was also cost-effective at ≥4%/≥5% lifetime OC risk for pre-/post-menopausal women, respectively. Seven studies demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of OBS at hysterectomy (n = 4), laparoscopic sterilisation (n = 4) or caesarean section (n = 2). This systematic review confirms that RRS is cost-effective, while the results are context-specific, given the diversity in the target populations, health systems and model assumptions, and sensitive to the disutility, age and uptake rates associated with RRS. Additionally, RRESDO/OBS were sensitive to the uncertainty concerning the effect sizes in terms of the OC-risk reduction and long-term health impact. Our findings are relevant for policymakers/service providers and the design of future research studies.