Advantages of the net benefit regression framework for trial-based economic evaluations of cancer treatments: an example from the Canadian Cancer Trials Group CO.17 trial

Hoch, Jeffrey SHay, AnnetteIsaranuwatchai, WanrudeeThavorn, KednapaLeighl, Natasha BTu, DongshengTrenaman, LoganDewa, Carolyn SO’Callaghan, ChrisPater, JosephJonker, DerekChen, Bingshu EMittmann, Nicole2019-06-092019-06-092019-06-07BMC Cancer. 2019 Jun 07;19(1):552https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-019-5779-xhttps://doi.org/10.20381/ruor-23536http://hdl.handle.net/10393/39289Abstract Background Economic evaluations commonly accompany trials of new treatments or interventions; however, regression methods and their corresponding advantages for the analysis of cost-effectiveness data are not widely appreciated. Methods To illustrate regression-based economic evaluation, we review a cost-effectiveness analysis conducted by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group’s Committee on Economic Analysis and implement net benefit regression. Results Net benefit regression offers a simple option for cost-effectiveness analyses of person-level data. By placing economic evaluation in a regression framework, regression-based techniques can facilitate the analysis and provide simple solutions to commonly encountered challenges (e.g., the need to adjust for potential confounders, identify key patient subgroups, and/or summarize “challenging” findings, like when a more effective regimen has the potential to be cost-saving). Conclusions Economic evaluations of patient-level data (e.g., from a clinical trial) can use net benefit regression to facilitate analysis and enhance results.Advantages of the net benefit regression framework for trial-based economic evaluations of cancer treatments: an example from the Canadian Cancer Trials Group CO.17 trialJournal Article2019-06-09enThe Author(s).