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. 2006 Nov 25;333(7578):1118–1120. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39008.624051.BE

Table 2.

 Cost and potential benefits of palliative cancer treatments in Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Trust

Treatment No of patients given treatment Drug cost (£000) Proved benefit Cost per quality adjusted life year gained (£000)
Second line docetaxel for lung cancer 15 45 Median survival improved by 2 months 17.55w8
Taxanes for breast cancer 35 150 Median time to progression improved by 5-16 weeks 19w9
Temozolomide for glioma 18 100 Median survival increased by 6 weeks 35w10
Paclitaxel for ovarian cancer 50 100 Median survival improved by 0-14 months 7-45w11
Irinotecan and oxaliplatin, first line treatment for colorectal cancer 45 300 Median survival increased by 2-3 months Irinotecan 30-58, oxaliplatin 23-57 per progression-free life yearw12
Herceptin for breast cancer 15 250 Median time to progression improved by 4 months 37.5 per quality adjusted life year in combination regimen, 7.5 per life year as single agentw13
Gemcitabine for pancreatic cancer 30 55 Median survival improved by 6 weeks 7-18w14
Total 208 997