6619 Background: Low-grade follicular lymphoma (FL) can present as localized stage I to II disease in up to one-third of patients. Upfront involved-site radiation therapy (RT) to 24-30Gy is the preferred first-line management strategy for these patients. However, the National LymphoCare Study found that less than one quarter of patients with early-stage, low-grade FL received upfront RT, while more than half received either chemoimmunotherapy or observation. Methods: We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis using a Markov state-transition model to simulate the progression of early-stage, low-grade FL in a cohort of 60-year-old men. The following first-line treatments were compared: RT, observation, rituximab induction (RI), rituximab and bendamustine (BR), and rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (RCHOP). Patients who relapsed received second-line therapies that were dependent on their first-line treatment: RT for RI and observation, RCHOP for RT and BR, and BR for RCHOP. Disease-progression probabilities and other model inputs were from published trials. Results: First-line RT followed by RCHOP for relapses had a quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) of 11.4 years, superior to first-line observation, RI, BR, and RCHOP strategies. First-line RT strongly dominated observation, BR, and RCHOP. Compared with RI, first-line RT resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $2,740 per quality-adjusted life year. The probability of dying from other causes, the probability of a complete response to RT, and the probability of relapse had the greatest impact on both cost and effectiveness expected values. Conclusions: In contrast to current practice patterns, first-line RT is the most effective upfront treatment for patients with early-stage, low-grade FL. Further, first-line RT paired with RCHOP for relapses is a cost-effective treatment paradigm, relative to other strategies. [Table: see text]
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Maintenance Treatment With Rituximab In Patients With Follicular Lymphoma Responding To First Line Induction Therapy In Portugal