HollandPTC Medical Delta program on HTA value proposition

As healthcare costs continue to rise, it is important to consider the societal and clinical impact of new technologies, such as proton therapy. It is essential for patients and society that scarce resources are utilized as efficiently as possible. Since proton therapy involves high investment and operational costs but can also offer significant clinical value, a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is essential.

An HTA includes an economic evaluation to determine the cost-effectiveness of proton therapy compared to photon therapy. Additionally, an HTA also covers logistical factors, technological advancements, and their impact on the overall costs of healthcare.

Proton therapy

Radiation therapy is used in cancer treatment to kill cancer cells. Conventional radiotherapy with photons works well for many patients, but sometimes the tumor is too close to vulnerable organs or is relatively insensitive to photon radiation. In those cases, proton therapy may be an option.

Proton therapy is a new way to treat cancer. Unlike traditionally used photon therapy, proton therapy delivers a very localized and precise dose to tumors. This results in less damage to the surrounding healthy tissue, leading to fewer side effects. Proton therapy uses protons instead of photons for radiation. Protons are small, charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom. To irradiate a tumor, protons are accelerated to over half the speed of light. The proton beam is aimed at the tumor. The speed of the protons can be adjusted so that they only destroy the tumor tissue while minimizing damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. However, proton therapy is more expensive than photon therapy and involves high investment costs.

Two types of cancer

In this consortium, an HTA is being conducted for proton therapy for the first time. The program initially focuses on two types of cancer. One of these is low-grade brain tumors, which grow relatively slowly and are often found in young people (aged 30-45). The other is head and neck cancer, which grows relatively quickly and is more common in older adults (aged 60-75). Currently, the patients involved in the assessment are being treated at HollandPTC, where data is being collected. HollandPTC, a treatment center for proton therapy, was established by Erasmus MC, LUMC, and TU Delft.

By including these two different types of cancer in the HTA, a comprehensive overview of proton therapy is created. This research will lead to a generic model that can be easily adapted to map the cost-effectiveness and value of proton therapy for all other types of cancer. This will be very useful in the future.

Collaboration

In this program, Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Leiden University, and HollandPTC collaborate. One researcher evaluates the cost structure of the proton center and the total costs of proton therapy.