OBJECTIVES: Platinum-based combination chemotherapy regimens with new agents such as gemcitabine, paclitaxel and vinorelbine have been investigated for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but no specific regimen has proven superiority in terms of prolonged survival. Assessing the costs of treatment and establishing which regimens provide value for money are important issues for healthcare providers. This study aimed to compare the mean total treatment costs of three novel chemotherapy regimens from the perspective of the UK National Health Service (NHS). METHODS: Resource utilisation and clinical outcome data were drawn from Scagliotti et al. (2002), a prospective, randomised, controlled trial of gemcitabine/cisplatin (Gem/Cis), paclitaxel/carboplatin (Pac/Carbo) and vinorelbine/cisplatin (Vin/Cis) in 612 chemotherapy-naïve patients with locally advanced NSCLC. No statistically significant differences were found between the treatment options in terms of progression-free and overall survival and, accordingly, a cost-minimisation analysis was conducted. Only direct medical resource costs were included in the analysis. Costs were compared across four main resource categories: chemotherapy acquisition, drug administration, hospitalisations associated with adverse events and other medical resources. UK health care unit costs were derived from published literature and public NHS sources. RESULTS: Patients treated with Gem/Cis had lower mean total treatment costs (£6,688) than patients treated with Pac/Carbo (£10,203) or Vin/Cis (£7,102). Chemotherapy acquisition was the major cost component for Gem/Cis and Pac/Carbo patients (51% and 79% of total costs per patient, respectively), whereas chemotherapy acquisition and hospitalisations accounted for 31% and 32%, respectively, of the total per-patient costs of the Vin/Cis regimen. CONCLUSIONS: For treatment of advanced NSCLC in the UK, Gem/Cis is associated with lower direct treatment-related costs than Pac/Carbo or Vin/Cis. This analysis presents evidence that the Gem/Cis regime provides greater value for money to fund-holders with a limited budget.