An intervention involving a blood test for gastric cancer–related microRNA in a population at intermediate risk is cost-effective and could as much as double cancer diagnoses in early stages, according to a study published in Value in Health (2020;23(9):1171-1179. doi:10.1016/j.jval.2020.04.1829).
The study investigated the cost-effectiveness of using a microRNA blood test as a screen, followed by endoscopy for diagnosis confirmation, in a group of Singaporean men, ages 50 to 75 with Chinese ethnicity, deemed at intermediate risk for gastric cancer. Researchers compared the screening strategy, which would take place every 3 years, with current practice of no screening and gastric cancer being diagnosed clinically. The study took a 25-year, health care perspective.
The microRNA blood test strategy showed an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $40,971 per quality-adjusted life year and was determined cost-effective, according to the study. Key drivers crucial to achieving cost-effectiveness included test costs, test accuracy, cancer incidence, and recurrence risk.
With perfect screening compliance, cancer diagnoses in early stages would double, researchers found, compared with current practice. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $70,000 per quality-adjusted life year, the microRNA blood test intervention was cost-effective in more than 95% of iterations, analysis showed.
“The microRNA-based screening intervention was found to be cost-effective and is expected to contribute immensely in early diagnosis of cancer by improving screening compliance,” researchers concluded.—Jolynn Tumolo
