Chemotherapy-related toxicities and costs signal place for amifostine

Abstract

T he economic burden of cancer in the US is immense, costing society an estimated $US104 billion/year. Notably, a significant proportion of this total cost is attributable to chemotherapy-induced toxicities. At one session held at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Annual Meeting [ Minneapolis, US; June 1997 ],*researchers discussed the costs associated with chemotherapy-induced toxicities, as well as cost-effective strategies for the management of such toxicities. They believe that the chemoprotectant amifostine is effective in the management of chemotherapy-induced toxicities, but that its high acquisition cost requires that pharmacoeconomic analyses be conducted. The results of cost analyses place amifostine in a favourable light.