Next-generation sequencing in oncology: challenges in economic evaluations

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Economics
• Genomics

Background:

• Next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers personalized cancer treatment by identifying genetic variants.
• However, insufficient cost-effectiveness evidence hinders its routine integration into cancer care.
• The complexity of personalized medicine complicates traditional economic evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review economic evaluation methods for NGS in oncology.
• To identify challenges in assessing the cost-effectiveness of NGS-guided cancer treatments.
• To inform future economic analyses for better outcome valuation.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of 27 articles published since 2016.
• Searches conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
• Analysis of applied methods and outcomes in economic evaluations of NGS.

Main Results:

• Key challenges identified include defining evaluative scope and managing evidence limitations.
• Difficulties in incorporating preference-based utility and assessing equity impacts were noted.
• These challenges stem from the scarcity of high-quality clinical effectiveness and real-world evidence (RWE) for NGS interventions.

Conclusions:

• Adapting methodological approaches and utilizing RWE for health technology assessment (HTA) is vital for NGS implementation in oncology.
• Innovative regulatory and reimbursement processes are needed to support sustainable, equitable, and patient-centered cancer care.