Chantal Quinten1, C Kenis2, M Hamaker3, A Coolbrandt4, B Brouwers5, L Dal Lago6, P Neven7, P Vuylsteke8, G Debrock9, H Van Den Bulck10, A Smeets7, P Schöffski11, A Bottomley12, U Wedding13, H Wildiers14. 1. Laboratory of Experimental Oncology (LEO), Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: chantal.quinten@kuleuven.be. 2. Department of General Medical Oncology and Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. 3. Department of General Medicine, Diakonessenhuis, Bosboomstraat 1, 3582 KE, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 4. Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. 5. Laboratory of Experimental Oncology (LEO), Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of General Medical Oncology and Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. 6. Department of Medicine, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Waterloolaan 121, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. 7. Multidisciplinary Breast Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. 8. Department of Medical Oncology, Université Catholique de Louvain, CHU UCL Namur, Site Sainte-Elisabeth, Place Louise Godin 15, 5000 Namur, Belgium. 9. Department of Medical Oncology, Ziekenhuizen Oost Limburg (ZOL), Schiepse Bos 6, 3000 Genk, Belgium. 10. Department of Medical Oncology, Imelda Ziekenhuizen Bondheiden, Imeldalaan 9, 2820 Bonheiden, Belgium. 11. Laboratory of Experimental Oncology (LEO), Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. 12. Quality of Life Department, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, E. Mounierlaan 83/11, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. 13. Department of Palliative Care, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740 Jena, Germany. 14. Laboratory of Experimental Oncology (LEO), Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of General Medical Oncology and Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Multidisciplinary Breast Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We aim to assess short and long term effects of chemotherapy on patient-reported quality of life (QOL) and patient versus clinician symptom reporting in older patients with breast cancer adjusted for tumour and aging parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective, multicentre, non-interventional, observational study, women aged ≥70years were enrolled after surgery and assigned to a TC chemotherapy (docetaxel and cyclophosphamide) group or a control group depending on their planned adjuvant treatment. Longitudinal multivariate models were used to assess the statistical and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in the impact of TC chemotherapy over time on QOL and symptom burden adjusted for baseline aging and tumour parameters. Statistical significance was set at 5% and MCID at 10 points. RESULTS: In total, 57 patients were enrolled in the chemotherapy and 52 patients in the control group. Within the chemotherapy group, clinical deterioration was reported at 3months for Fatigue (17.73), Dyspnoea (17.05), Diarrhoea (12.06) and Appetite Loss (17.05) scores (all p<0.001). However, the scores had returned to baseline (or even better for Role Functioning) at year 1. No clinical deterioration was reported in the control group. Symptom scores as reported by patients were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those reported by the clinicians, even more so for Fatigue, Dyspnoea, and Pain. CONCLUSION: Our results show that symptom burden and diminished QOL in an older breast cancer population receiving adjuvant TC chemotherapy are short-lived and disappear after a while with no long-term differences compared to a similar population not receiving chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVES: We aim to assess short and long term effects of chemotherapy on patient-reported quality of life (QOL) and patient versus clinician symptom reporting in older patients with breast cancer adjusted for tumour and aging parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective, multicentre, non-interventional, observational study, women aged ≥70years were enrolled after surgery and assigned to a TC chemotherapy (docetaxel and cyclophosphamide) group or a control group depending on their planned adjuvant treatment. Longitudinal multivariate models were used to assess the statistical and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in the impact of TC chemotherapy over time on QOL and symptom burden adjusted for baseline aging and tumour parameters. Statistical significance was set at 5% and MCID at 10 points. RESULTS: In total, 57 patients were enrolled in the chemotherapy and 52 patients in the control group. Within the chemotherapy group, clinical deterioration was reported at 3months for Fatigue (17.73), Dyspnoea (17.05), Diarrhoea (12.06) and Appetite Loss (17.05) scores (all p<0.001). However, the scores had returned to baseline (or even better for Role Functioning) at year 1. No clinical deterioration was reported in the control group. Symptom scores as reported by patients were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those reported by the clinicians, even more so for Fatigue, Dyspnoea, and Pain. CONCLUSION: Our results show that symptom burden and diminished QOL in an older breast cancer population receiving adjuvant TC chemotherapy are short-lived and disappear after a while with no long-term differences compared to a similar population not receiving chemotherapy.
Authors: C Quinten; C Kenis; L Decoster; P R Debruyne; I De Groof; C Focan; F Cornelis; V Verschaeve; C Bachmann; D Bron; S Luce; G Debugne; H Van den Bulck; J C Goeminne; A Baitar; K Geboers; B Petit; C Langenaeken; R Van Rijswijk; P Specenier; G Jerusalem; J P Praet; K Vandenborre; M Lycke; J Flamaing; K Milisen; J P Lobelle; H Wildiers Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2018-12-03 Impact factor: 4.147