[The economic burden of prostate cancer. A systematic literature overview of registry-based studies]

Prostate cancer, the most frequent malignant disease in males in Europe, accounts for a great proportion of health expenditures.

A systematic review of registry-based studies about the cost-of-illness and related factors of prostate cancer, published in the last 10 years.

A MEDLINE-based literature review was carried out between January 1, 2003 and October 1, 2013.

Fifteen peer-reviewed articles met the criteria of interest. In developed countries radiotherapy, surgical treatment and hormone therapy account for the greatest per capita costs. In Europe early stage tumours (4-7000 €, 2006), while in the USA metastatic prostate cancer (19 900-25 500 $, 2004) was associated with highest per capita expenses. In Europe the greatest costs incurred within the initial treatment (6400 €/6 months, 2008), while in the USA within the end-of-life care (depending on age: 62 200-93 400 $, 2010).

Despite public health importance of prostate cancer, the cost-of-illness literature from Europe is relatively small.