Shailesh M Advani1, Quilling Shi2, Michael J Overman3, Jonathan M Loree3, Michael Lam3, Van Morris3, Imad Shureiqi3, Bryan Kee3, Arvind Dasari3, Eduardo Vilar4, Amir Mehrvarz Sarshekeh3, Huei K Lin2, Shanequa Manuel3, Stan Hamilton5, Kanwal Raghav3, Dipen Maru5, Scott Kopetz3, Xin Shelley Wang6. 1. Social Epidemiology Research Unit, Social Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD; Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. 2. Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. 3. Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. 4. Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. 5. Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. 6. Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. Electronic address: xswang@mdanderson.org.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is influenced by the genetic and epigenetic changes that might influence the patient experience of symptom burden. Understanding the association of molecular changes with the symptom burden could help clinicians gain insight into the molecular basis of symptom burden and improve treatment tolerance. To date, no studies have compared the patient-reported symptom burden with these molecular subsets among patients with mCRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We recruited patients with mCRC that was refractory to ≥ 1 line of therapy who had been enrolled in the Assessment of Targeted Therapies Against Colorectal Cancer trial at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. All patients completed a baseline gastrointestinal symptom inventory (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, gastrointestinal). The symptom burden across key demographic variables and molecular changes, including CRC-associated mutations, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, and the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) were compared using χ2 tests. Association of the symptom burden with overall survival was examined using Cox regression models. RESULTS: Patients with an MSI-high (MSI-H) phenotype reported greater pain (odds ratio [OR], 3.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.61-5.84), fatigue (OR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.41-5.49), sleep (OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.32-4.08); and drowsiness (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.32-4.78) compared with microsatellite stable patients. Patients with an MSI-H phenotype also had greater odds of overall symptom burden (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.29-4.74) compared with microsatellite stable patients. The CIMP-high patients experienced greater odds of pain compared with the CIMP-negative patients (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.06-2.80). A greater overall symptom burden was associated with poor overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.98-2.06]), although the difference was not significant (P = .06). CONCLUSION: Correlation of MSI-H-associated tumor features with the symptom burden could help provide a better understanding of underlying mechanisms associated with our findings.
BACKGROUND: The survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is influenced by the genetic and epigenetic changes that might influence the patient experience of symptom burden. Understanding the association of molecular changes with the symptom burden could help clinicians gain insight into the molecular basis of symptom burden and improve treatment tolerance. To date, no studies have compared the patient-reported symptom burden with these molecular subsets among patients with mCRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We recruited patients with mCRC that was refractory to ≥ 1 line of therapy who had been enrolled in the Assessment of Targeted Therapies Against Colorectal Cancer trial at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. All patients completed a baseline gastrointestinal symptom inventory (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, gastrointestinal). The symptom burden across key demographic variables and molecular changes, including CRC-associated mutations, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, and the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) were compared using χ2 tests. Association of the symptom burden with overall survival was examined using Cox regression models. RESULTS:Patients with an MSI-high (MSI-H) phenotype reported greater pain (odds ratio [OR], 3.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.61-5.84), fatigue (OR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.41-5.49), sleep (OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.32-4.08); and drowsiness (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.32-4.78) compared with microsatellite stable patients. Patients with an MSI-H phenotype also had greater odds of overall symptom burden (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.29-4.74) compared with microsatellite stable patients. The CIMP-high patients experienced greater odds of pain compared with the CIMP-negative patients (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.06-2.80). A greater overall symptom burden was associated with poor overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.98-2.06]), although the difference was not significant (P = .06). CONCLUSION: Correlation of MSI-H-associated tumor features with the symptom burden could help provide a better understanding of underlying mechanisms associated with our findings.