Adnkronos Rome, April 24 (Adnkronos Salute) – At least "30 thousand deaths could be avoided" in 8 years by the use of immuno-oncology in 3 types of tumors, but the "diversity of access to care in the various regions" weighs on the results. These are the estimates of the Lion project which, "born in 2023, brings together the skills of a group of experts, oncologists and economists, with the aim of evaluating the impact of immuno-oncology in Italy in terms of gains in life years for cancer patients" and at an "economic level, understood as human capital, where these patients are of working age and therefore also manage to produce income".
This is how Massimo Riccaboni, professor of Economics, Imt Scuola Alti Studi, Lucca, illustrates to Adnkronos Salute the results of the project that collected data on the entire national panorama, also making "an aggregate analysis by region, of all cancer patients for 3 types of tumors: kidney, lung and melanoma".
The period considered, from 2013 to 2019, "takes into account the fact that the first immuno-oncology was launched in 2013 - the professor recalls - This has allowed us to estimate, based on the availability of immuno-oncological therapies at a regional level, how much these have led to an increase in life expectancy, in the survival rate of patients. We have therefore quantified the benefit brought by the use of these therapies from 2013 to 2019: 4 thousand deaths avoided are estimated", with savings of approximately 120 million euros in indirect costs. These are calculated using the human capital methodology, valuing the number of years gained for the 3 tumor settings. "Extrapolating the analysis in the 2020-2028 time horizon, therefore also potentially for future years, we have seen how the number of deaths avoided in the 3 tumor types is approximately 30 thousand people".
This data "represents an underestimation - Riccaboni specifies - because it is based on the availability of treatments in 2019, while we know well that in the last 6 years the availability of these types of drugs has increased and therefore, presumably, there will be a greater increase than that predicted by our analysis". In the study, the increase in survival of the 30 thousand patients "was associated with an economic value that for the years 2020-2028 can be estimated at 750 million euros" of indirect costs. The value was obtained "by looking, in different territorial contexts, at the age of diagnosis, the employment rate, therefore what is the fraction of subjects who are employed, and what is the average salary received in different regional scenarios. This led to an estimate, maintaining the productive life of the subjects treated, of what is the income generated through their operational activity".
Immuno-oncology "represents a revolution in the oncology field - the economist emphasizes - due to the possibility of developing agents that stimulate an immune response against the tumor", limiting "its proliferation. In some fields it has also led to a long survival of patients who are able to maintain a good quality of life. Therefore, beyond avoiding a progression or worsening of their condition", the innovative therapy allows them "to maintain productivity, to stay at work". In the case of melanoma, for example, "often the age of diagnosis is very early and this allows these subjects to continue to carry out their normal existence, also for productive purposes, with induced economic benefits".
The study also shows the impact of the "considerable variety" of availability and access to care at the regional level. "If all regions had the same penetration rate of these innovative therapies - concludes Riccaboni - the life expectancy from 2020 to 2028 would increase by 27%. Greater alignment on the use of innovative therapies across the country would also lead to further benefits".