Modern drug therapy of prostate cancer through the example of Moscow

Background. The average annual increment (5,09 %) of the prostate cancer (PC) incidence was highest across male oncological diseases registered in Russia from 2007 to 2017. 4643 new cases of PC were diagnosed in Moscow in 2017. As of 1st January 2018, the total number of living males with PC registered within Moscow healthcare system was 31,567.

The study objective was to obtain the structure of factual costs related to medicine therapy of PC covered by the budget funds of the Moscow Healthcare Department in 2016–2017, that would help to further improve the system of subsidized drug provision for Moscow residents.

Materials and methods. Using data from the information database of the Center for Medicine Provision of the Moscow City Department of Healthcare the following parameters were determined: total sum of expenses on drug purchase, mean treatment cost per 1 patient, number of patients receiving therapy, number of prescriptions, number of prescribed drug packs, mean pack cost, and others. The analyzed medicines were classified based on pharmacological and clinical groups. Costs for each class of therapies were studied.

Results. During studied period (2016–2017), the most funds in Moscow were spent on abiraterone and goserelin. In 2016–2017, the amounts of prescribed packs were highest for androgen deprivation therapy: luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists – goserelin and buserelin. In the group comprising 10 therapeutic regimens associated with highest costs, the percentages of costs for hormonal therapy and chemotherapy were respectively as following: 80 % and 16 % in 2016 and 75 % and 23 % in 2017. In the simplified model of costs associated with androgen deprivation therapy and treatment of metastatic castration-resistant PC without consideration of androgen deprivation therapy constituted 39 % and 61 % in 2016 and 36 % and 64 % in 2017. In the population of patients with prostate cancer, zoledronic acid, abiraterone, docetaxel, cabazitaxel were the most used medications in 2017 and the rate of enzalutamide usage was lowest.

Conclusion. The highest costs are associated with treatment of metastatic castration-resistant PC. There is a growing necessity for improvement of funds spending on medications for patients with castration-resistant PC. This improvement could be achieved through development of medical methodologies that facilitate the selection of the most cost-effective approaches for early diagnosis and treatment.

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