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World J Clin Oncol. May 10, 2014; 5(2): 164-169
Published online May 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i2.164
Published online May 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i2.164
Evolution of costs of cancer drugs in a Portuguese hospital
Vânia Peixoto, Ana Luísa Faria, Joana Macedo, Sónia Rego, Emilio Macías, Aldiro Magano, António Araújo, Department of Medical Oncology, Centro Hospitalar de Entre Douro e Vouga, 4520-211 Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal
Márcia Gonçalves, Márcia Loureiro, Pharmacy Department, Centro Hospitalar de Entre Douro e Vouga, 4520-211 Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal
Author contributions: Peixoto V and Araújo A contributed to the conception and study design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the article; Faria AL, Macedo J, Rego S and Macías E contributed to the conception of the study, revising the article critically for important intellectual content; Gonçalves M, Magano A and Loureiro M contributed to acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, revising the article critically for important intellectual content.
Correspondence to: António Araújo, MD, PhD, Department of Medical Oncology, Centro Hospitalar de Entre Douro e Vouga, Rua Doutor Cândido Pinho, 4520-211 Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal. amfaraujo@netcabo.pt
Telephone: +351-256-379700 Fax: +351-256-373867
Received: November 12, 2013
Revised: February 18, 2014
Accepted: March 3, 2014
Published online: May 10, 2014
Revised: February 18, 2014
Accepted: March 3, 2014
Published online: May 10, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: In the last decade costs related to cancer drugs have increased significantly. This growth seems to be explained by the increase in cancer incidence, new indications for treatment with previously approved cancer drugs and to placement of new drugs on the market, which are frequently more expensive than those already on sale. The results of the Karolinska Institute study demonstrated a substantial increase in available cancer drugs and costs between 1998 and 2007. The cost increment was not only related to the introduction of new drugs, but 68% of the costs in 2007 were due to drugs approved before 1999.