OBJECTIVES: Mantle cell leukemia is a rare, incurable, relapse disease, and life-threatening disease, with an incidence of 0.16/100,000 in China. Chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy, although documented with a poor response, rapid progress, severe adverse events and median overall survival of 1-2 years in relapse/refractory mantle cell leukemia(rrMCL) patients by multiple trials, were still the most common treatment in rrMCL patients in present clinical practice. This study aims to evaluate the economic burden (including direct and indirect cost) of chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy in rrMCL patients from societal perspective.

METHODS: Delph panels were conducted with hematologists and oncologists. Questionnaires were designed to collect relevant clinical and costs information to document the treatment burden.

RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy, although clinically efficacious, not only have a poor survival benefit in rrMCL patients, but also imposing significant economic burden in China. This study highlights the importance that we should pay attention to their impact on patients’ quality of life and the total management costs rather than just drug cost when evaluating chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy.