Prostate cancer poses a significant challenge to healthcare systems due to the rising costs of treatment in the advanced stages of the disease. This review aims to analyze the economic burden of metastatic prostate cancer by reviewing existing studies published in the last ten years. Progression from a non-metastatic to a metastatic stage significantly increases healthcare costs, particularly in terms of hospitalizations, specialist examinations, and drug therapy. Retrospective analyses have shown that costs per patient can increase up to 62-fold when progressing to the metastatic stage. The main cost drivers are skeletal-related events (SREs), which further exacerbate hospital stays and treatment costs. Interventions that slow disease progression can help reduce the economic burden. This review highlights the importance of effective treatments and strategic approaches to cost control.
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