Deficiencies of methods applied in cost effectiveness analysis of hematological malignancies

Background: As novel therapies in oncology and in particular hematological malignancies impose a high financial burden with a limited increase in life expectancy. Therefore, CEA is important to evaluate the value of new therapies. However, there is a dire need to critically evaluate how valid are such studies. Aims: To review and critically analyze the methodology used to conduct CEAs within the hematologic malignancies disease. Methods: We conducted a PubMed search using the following keywords and combined searches: CEAs, hematological malignancies leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Results: Available data showed that systemic reviews of CEA of hematological malignancies to assess whether reviewers have not sufficiently cited deficiencies in their methodologies, or stated clearly the impact of sponsorship and publication biases. Conclusion: Despite the paucity of the literature, sponsorship bias was found to be a major concern in the validity of these analyses.