Journal article
Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Treatments for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive Carcinoma in Situ of the Bladder
European urology, Vol.89(2), pp.151-162
02/2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2025.09.4137
PMID: 41046180
Abstract
Treatment options for patients with "bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive" disease who are ineligible for or refuse radical cystectomy (RC) are expanding. Given the lack of direct comparative data, we conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis to guide treatment selection.
We developed a Markov decision analytic model to assess five treatments: RC, nadofaragene, nogapendekin, pembrolizumab, and gemcitabine/docetaxel. Cost effectiveness was evaluated over a 5-yr period using a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000 per quality-adjusted life year from the US Medicare perspective. Three index patients with BCG-unresponsive carcinoma in situ (CIS) were assessed.
For index patient 1, who is willing to try one line of therapy or proceed directly to RC, gemcitabine/docetaxel was the most cost-effective option. For index patient 2, open to two lines of therapy or upfront RC, RC was most cost effective. For index patient 3, willing to try up to two lines of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapy (pembrolizumab, nadofaragene, or nogapendekin) before RC, pembrolizumab was the most cost-effective option.
Current pricing of bladder-sparing treatments poses significant financial barriers for patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS. Gemcitabine/docetaxel is most cost effective when only one therapy line is considered before RC, although this varies by clinical scenario. Upfront RC is most cost effective for patients wanting to try up to two lines of therapy. For patients only willing to try FDA-approved options and unwilling to undergo upfront RC, pembrolizumab is the most cost-effective option. Our findings highlight the need for better treatment selection tools and more equitable pricing.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Treatments for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive Carcinoma in Situ of the Bladder
- Creators
- Amanda A Myers - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterRuchika Talwar - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterZhigang Duan - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterPatrick Hensley - University of KentuckyYair Lotan - The University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterStephen B Williams - The University of Texas Medical Branch at GalvestonAmy N Luckenbaugh - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterRoger Li - Moffitt Cancer CenterWassim Kassouf - McGill University Health CentreAndrea Necchi - Vita-Salute San Raffaele UniversityVignesh T Packiam - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyNeal Shore - Carolina Urologic Research CenterGary D Steinberg - Rush University Medical CenterJ Alfred Witjes - Radboud University Medical CenterBogdana Schmidt - University of UtahSima Porten - University of California, San FranciscoNoah M Hahn - Johns Hopkins UniversityKelly K Bree - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterIakovos Toumazis - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHui Zhao - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterAshish M Kamat - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- European urology, Vol.89(2), pp.151-162
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.eururo.2025.09.4137
- PMID
- 41046180
- NLM abbreviation
- Eur Urol
- ISSN
- 1873-7560
- eISSN
- 1873-7560
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 10/03/2025
- Date published
- 02/2026
- Academic Unit
- Urology
- Record Identifier
- 9984969111202771
Metrics
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