Onkologie
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Adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer represents a significant economic burden for the German health care system. The available chemotherapy regimens have significantly different medical and economic profiles. ⋯ In Germany, FOLFOX-4 is the most effective but also the most expensive treatment and represents the current standard. Xelox emerges as a slightly less costly alternative when oral treatment is preferred. For patients not able to tolerate oxaliplatin-based therapy, capecitabine has the best economic profile of all alternative regimens. Drug acquisition costs are by far the most important factor driving costs in all regimens.