Clinical Oncology
Volume 16, Issue 8 , Pages 549-560, December 2004

The contribution of cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adult malignancies

  • Graeme Morgan

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiation Oncology, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationAuthor for correspondence: Dr Graeme W. Morgan, Director, Radiation Oncology, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney NSW 2065, Australia. Tel: +61-2-9926-5010; Fax: +61-2-9906-4150.
    • ,
  • Robyn Ward

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Oncology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
    • ,
  • Michael Barton

      Affiliations

    • Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Liverpool Health Service, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Received 18 August 2003; received in revised form 20 April 2004; accepted 3 June 2004.

Abstract 

Aims

The debate on the funding and availability of cytotoxic drugs raises questions about the contribution of curative or adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy to survival in adult cancer patients.

Materials and methods

We undertook a literature search for randomised clinical trials reporting a 5-year survival benefit attributable solely to cytotoxic chemotherapy in adult malignancies. The total number of newly diagnosed cancer patients for 22 major adult malignancies was determined from cancer registry data in Australia and from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results data in the USA for 1998. For each malignancy, the absolute number to benefit was the product of (a) the total number of persons with that malignancy; (b) the proportion or subgroup(s) of that malignancy showing a benefit; and (c) the percentage increase in 5-year survival due solely to cytotoxic chemotherapy. The overall contribution was the sum total of the absolute numbers showing a 5-year survival benefit expressed as a percentage of the total number for the 22 malignancies.

Results

The overall contribution of curative and adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adults was estimated to be 2.3% in Australia and 2.1% in the USA.

Conclusion

As the 5-year relative survival rate for cancer in Australia is now over 60%, it is clear that cytotoxic chemotherapy only makes a minor contribution to cancer survival. To justify the continued funding and availability of drugs used in cytotoxic chemotherapy, a rigorous evaluation of the cost-effectiveness and impact on quality of life is urgently required.

Keywords:  Chemotherapy, combined modality treatment, palliation, quality of life, radiotherapy, survival

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PII: S0936-6555(04)00222-5

doi:10.1016/j.clon.2004.06.007

Clinical Oncology
Volume 16, Issue 8 , Pages 549-560, December 2004

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