Abstract
Objectives: To determine whether utilisation of a serum microRNA (miRNA) test could improve treatment appropriateness and cost-effectiveness for patients with Stage I non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCTs). Patients and Methods: A decision tree model was built to investigate treatment course, clinical and cost outcomes for patients with Stage IA (T1N0M0S0) and IB (T2–4N0M0S0) NSGCT. The model compared outcomes and cost of standard approach using histopathology, conventional serum tumour markers and radiographic staging (standard model) to a miRNA-based approach using the standard model + post-orchidectomy serum miR-371a-3p (marker model). Probabilities of expected treatment and outcomes were based on presence/absence of cancer upon entering into the model. Overtreatment was defined as adjuvant chemotherapy or primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in a patient without cancer. Undertreatment was defined as initial surveillance for a patient with cancer. Results: Utilising the miRNA marker-based approach, 26% of patients avoid overtreatment and 8% avoid undertreatment in Stage IA NSGCT; 27% avoid overtreatment and 23% avoid undertreatment in Stage IB disease. Appropriate treatment decision-making increased from 65% to 94% and 50% to 92% for Stage IA and IB, respectively. The miRNA-based approach remained cost-effective over a wide range of performance characteristics with savings of ~$1400 (American dollars)/patient for both Stage IA and IB disease. Conclusion: A miRNA-based approach may potentially select patients with Stage I NSGCT for correct treatment in a cost-effective manner. Identification of residual teratoma-only remains an issue. Prospective studies are necessary to validate these findings.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 57-64 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | BJU International |
Volume | 128 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2021 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- #uroonc
- biomarker
- cost
- germ cell tumour
- microRNA
- testicular cancer
- testis cancer