Cost-Outcome of Radiotherapy for Local Control and Overall Survival Outcomes for Selected Cancers

Introduction

Optimal radiotherapy (RT) use in cancer patients results in substantial 5-year local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) benefits at the population level. This study aimed to estimate the average per capita cost of the first course of RT treatment and the associated cost per LC and OS outcomes, both overall and by cancer stage.

Methods

Data on RT activities from 2017 to 2020 for lung, rectum, cervix, prostate, brain and head and neck (H&N) cancers were extracted from South-Western Sydney Local Health District electronic oncology information system MOSAIQ (Elekta, version 2.63). Costs were assigned based on activity codes and adjusted for yearly inflation rates. The average cost per treatment course was calculated (average cost per activity × number of fractions). Costs per 5- and 1-year LC and OS outcomes were estimated for all stages and for stages I–II and III.

Results

A total of 106,174 RT activities were extracted. The average cost of an RT treatment course was highest for prostate cancer ($10,332) and lowest for lung cancer ($5598). The lowest costs per 5-year outcome were observed for cervical cancers (LC: $15,780, OS: $28,370) and H&N cancers (LC: $17,500, OS: $29,750). The cost per 5-year LC and OS outcome remained below $100,000 across all stages for each cancer type, except for prostate cancer, where the cost per OS outcome exceeded this level.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that the absolute costs associated with achieving 5-year local control and overall survival outcomes with radiotherapy are comparatively low across several major cancer types. These findings highlight the efficiency of radiotherapy in delivering meaningful clinical outcomes and can help inform service planning, investment decisions and prioritisation of radiotherapy within cancer care strategies.