Supplementary data: Cost–effectiveness of concurrent radiation with cetuximab or chemotherapy in older patients with oropharyngeal cancer

These are peer-reviewed supplementary materials for the article 'Cost–effectiveness of concurrent radiation with cetuximab or chemotherapy in older patients with oropharyngeal cancer' published in the Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research.

• Appendix Table 1: Matching variables for each comparison
• Appendix Table 2: Censoring rates at 5 years, stratified by treatment groups and diagnosis period
• Appendix Table 3: Characteristics of the matched sample comparing the RT and CRT groups in Cohort I
• Appendix Table 4: Characteristics of the matched sample comparing the RT and CRT groups in Cohort II
• Appendix Table 5: Characteristics of the matched sample comparing the RT and cetuximab-RT groups in Cohort II
• Appendix Table 6: Characteristics of the matched sample comparing the CRT and cetuximab-RT groups in Cohort II

Aim: To assess the cost–effectiveness of definitive therapies for nonmetastatic oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). Materials & methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare dataset, patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2011 were identified. The cost–effectiveness of chemoradiation (CRT) versus radiotherapy (RT), cetuximab plus RT (cetuximab-RT) versus RT and cetuximab-RT versus CRT were estimated. Results: The incremental cost–effectiveness ratio for CRT compared with RT from 2000 to 2005 was US$56,650 (95% CI: US$4,522–$288,688) per additional year of survival. CRT was dominated by RT from 2006 to 2011. Cetuximab-RT was dominated by RT and CRT. Conclusion: CRT had a favorable value from 2000 to 2005 but was dominated by RT from 2006 to 2011. The value of cetuximab-RT compared with RT/CRT was not favorable with similar/inferior survival and substantial incremental costs.