02:24:13 Europe / Stockholm

Prenumeration

2022-01-28 15:30:00
  • 60 percent reduction of MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) procedures
  • 39 percent reduction of overdiagnostics
  • Cost effective for population-based screening

A3P Biomedical AB today announced that a cost-utility analysis based on the STHLM3 MRI trial was published in European Urology Focus (1). The analysis concluded that a Stockholm3 based screening strategy would be cost effective and could reduce the need of MRI with 60 percent and, at the same time, reduce overdiagnostics with 39 percent compared to using PSA and MRI.

Combining the Stockholm3 blood test with MRI is state-of-the-art for early detection of prostate cancer. This publication demonstrates the significant gains predicted by introducing screening based on Stockholm3: reduced mortality and a significant reduction in MRIs and biopsies, driving the cost-effectiveness already seen at the healthcare providers who have implemented Stockholm3 in Scandinavia,” said David Rosén, CEO at A3P Biomedical.

Last year, the results from the STHLM3 MRI trial were fast-tracked and published in The Lancet Oncology. The results also won the first prize for best Oncology abstract at the EAU congress (2).

This week, a cost-utility analysis based on the STHLM3 MRI trial was published in European Urology Focus1. The analysis was conducted from a lifetime societal perspective using a microsimulation model for men in Sweden aged 55-69 and compared no screening with three quadrennial screening strategies, including PSA and Stockholm3.

Men with a value above the threshold for either PSA or Stockholm3 had an MRI, and those MRI positive had combined targeted and systematic biopsies. Predictions included the number of tests, cancer incidence and mortality, costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Uncertainties in key parameters were assessed using sensitivity analyses.

Compared with no screening, the screening strategies were considered to have moderate costs per QALY gained in Sweden. Using Stockholm3 resulted in a 60 percent reduction in MRI and a 39 percent reduction in overdiagnostics compared with screening using PSA before MRI. The Stockholm3 screening strategy was found to be cost effective and reduce screening-related harms while maintaining the health benefits from early detection.

(1) Cost-effectiveness of Stockholm3 test and magnetic resonance imaging in prostate cancer screening: A microsimulation study; Hao et al, European Urology Focus 2022.
(2) European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress 2021.