Impact of symptoms and toxicity on quality of life: Exploratory analysis of gemcitabine plus docetaxel vs capecitabine plus docetaxel in metastatic breast cancer

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 682-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Fumoleau ◽  
G. Romieu ◽  
S. Chan ◽  
J. Huober ◽  
M. Tubiana-Hulin ◽  
...  

682 Background: A recent phase III trial comparing gemcitabine-docetaxel (GD) with capecitabine-docetaxel (CD) for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) found comparable progression-free survival but patients (pts) on GD had less toxicity (Chan, ASCO 2005). To better understand how quality of life (QoL) is impacted by toxicity and symptoms, we conducted an exploratory analysis. Methods: The study had 305 pts who relapsed after anthracycline-based treatment either in (neo)adjuvant or first-line MBC. Pts were randomized to GD or CD for 21-day cycles until PD or unacceptable toxicity. QoL was assessed every cycle with Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL). Only pts with RSCL data were included in the QoL analysis. Comparison between arms of changes from baseline in RSCL dimensions at each cycle were analyzed using analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA). Because the physical symptom distress scale (PSDS) includes symptom- and toxicity-related items, distributions of responses to each item were explored. Results: 302 pts received treatment (GD 152; CD 150); median number of cycles was 6 for both arms. 267 pts (88%) had baseline RSCL data; compliance ranged from 79%-88% for the first 6 cycles. Baseline RSCL scores were comparable between arms. No statistical differences between arms were seen for any of the RSCL dimensions (p>.05 at all cycles). Both arms had worsening in the PSDS (median increases of 3–6.8 on 69-point scale). Numerical differences were seen in some PSDS items rated as “quite a bit” or “very much.” By cycle 3, more GD pts reported tiredness (58% v 47%), lack of energy (45% v 38%), back pain (19% v 9%), and by cycle 2, alopecia (76% v 66%). By cycle 1, more CD pts reported tingling hands/feet (15% v 7%) and burning/sore eyes (14% v 3%). Conclusions: Preliminary analysis indicated no QoL differences between GD and CD; however, further exploration shows that physical distress is explained by different symptoms and toxicities in each arm. Results, particularly at later cycles, should be cautiously interpreted because of pt attrition and different reasons for discontinuation (eg, more CD than GD pts discontinued due to serious adverse events [28% v 13%]). Further analysis incorporating clinical outcomes may better explain QoL outcomes [Table: see text]

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 588-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
George W. Sledge ◽  
Donna Neuberg ◽  
Patricia Bernardo ◽  
James N. Ingle ◽  
Silvana Martino ◽  
...  

Purpose: Between February 1993 and September 1995, 739 patients with metastatic breast cancer were entered on an Intergroup trial (E1193) comparing doxorubicin (60 mg/m2), paclitaxel (175 mg/m2/24 h), and the combination of doxorubicin and paclitaxel (AT, 50 mg/m2 and 150 mg/m2/24 h, plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 5 mg/kg) as first-line therapy. Patients receiving single-agent doxorubicin or paclitaxel were crossed over to the other agent at time of progression. Patients and Methods: Patients were well balanced for on-study characteristics. Results: Responses (complete response and partial response) were seen in 36% of doxorubicin, 34% of paclitaxel, and 47% of AT patients (P = .84 for doxorubicin v paclitaxel, P = .007 for v AT, P = .004 for paclitaxel v AT). Median time to treatment failure (TTF) is 5.8, 6.0, and 8.0 months for doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and AT, respectively (P = .68 for doxorubicin v paclitaxel, P = .003 for doxorubicin v AT, P = .009 for paclitaxel v AT). Median survivals are 18.9 months for patients taking doxorubicin, 22.2 months for patients taking paclitaxel, and 22.0 months for patients taking AT (P = not significant). Responses were seen in 20% of patients crossing from doxorubicin → paclitaxel and 22% of patients crossing from paclitaxel → doxorubicin (P = not significant). Changes in global quality-of-life measurements from on-study to week 16 were similar in all three groups. Conclusion: (1) doxorubicin and paclitaxel, in the doses used here, have equivalent activity; (2) the combination of AT results in superior overall response rates and time to TTF; and (3) despite these results, combination therapy with AT did not improve either survival or quality of life compared to sequential single-agent therapy.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 598-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Cortes ◽  
José Baselga ◽  
Young-Hyuck Im ◽  
Graham Ross ◽  
Emma Clark ◽  
...  

598^ Background: CLEOPATRA compared the efficacy and safety of the HER2 dimerization inhibitor pertuzumab (P) plus trastuzumab (T) and docetaxel (D) with placebo (Pla)+T+D in HER2-positive 1st-line MBC. Pts in both arms received a median of 8 cycles of D; Pla/P+T was continued until progressive disease (PD). The safety profile in both arms was similar with a substantial decrease in adverse events (AEs) once chemotherapy finished. The independently assessed progression-free survival was significantly improved with P+T+D compared with Pla+T+D; objective response and duration of response were also improved with P+T+D (Baselga NEJM 2012). Here we report health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data from CLEOPATRA. Methods: Time to deterioration of HRQoL was evaluated using the FACT-B questionnaire and defined as decrease from baseline (BL) of ≥5 points in the TOI-PFB subscale score. Female pts completed questionnaires every 3rd cycle of therapy within 3 days before each tumor assessment until independently determined PD. An exploratory analysis investigated time to deterioration in breast cancer symptoms and functions. Results: 56.7% (Pla+T+D) and 59.5% (P+T+D) of pts experienced deterioration of HRQoL during the study based on TOI-PFB. The median time to deterioration was 18.3 vs 18.4 wks (~6 cycles) (HR 0.97; P = .7161). At Cycle 6, the mean reduction in TOI-PFB score from BL was –3.5 (Pla+T+D) vs –3.0 (P+T+D). At subsequent cycles, when most pts had discontinued D, mean reductions were smaller, suggesting that after an early decline patients’ scores improved slightly. Overall, mean changes were small in both arms. Compliance with completion of the FACT-B questionnaire was ≥75% beyond the 1st year in both arms. An exploratory analysis suggested that time to deterioration in BCS score, which measures symptoms and issues relevant in breast cancer, was delayed with P+T+D (18.3 vs 26.7 wks; HR 0.77; P = .0061). Conclusions: Combining P with T+D appears to have no detrimental effect on HRQoL. Results suggest that P+T+D is associated with a substantial delay in the time to deterioration in BCS score as would be expected given the improved efficacy and the low incidence of AEs once D is discontinued.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (27_suppl) ◽  
pp. 129-129
Author(s):  
Raman Tatla ◽  
Denis Landaverde ◽  
Charles Victor ◽  
David Miles ◽  
Sunil Verma

129 Background: The management of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is often considered to be palliative, with most interventions intended to relieve disease symptoms, minimize treatment effects and prolong patient survival. The impact of disease and treatment on a patient's funcitonal abilities has led to an emphasis of incorporating quality of life (QoL) measures into clinical trials. The main objective of this study is to evaluate phase III clinical trials in MBC, and assess the inclusion of QOL as an endpoint, in addition to conventional efficacy endpoints. Methods: A structured PubMed search was conducted to identify phase III clinical trials published between Jan. 1990 and Aug. 2011, evaluating systemic treatment in MBC patients. Data pertaining to treatment regimens, study endpoints and clinical findings were collected, with a particular focus on progression-based (PB), overall survival (OS), and QoL endpoints. Results: Of 520 publications identified, 122 phase III MBC clinical trials met the inclusion criteria. Of these studies, 98.4% and 95.9% included PB and OS respectively, as clinical endpoints, while QoL was assessed in only 46 (37.7%) studies. While the inclusion of QoL was not associated with the significance of PB results, there was an association between the inclusion of QoL and OS results, with 59% of significant OS studies and 32% of non-significant OS studies including QoL as a clinical endpoint (p=0.016). When stratified by treatment arm, it was found that studies favouring standard therapy were more likely to include QoL (75%, p=0.045), compared to those favouring the intervention (56%), and those without significant differences (32%). Conclusions: Although the importance of QoL is often emphasized in MBC management and treatment decisions, only one-third of identified phase III clinical trials included an assessment of QoL. About half of these trials showed no statistically significant differences in the QoL endpoint; of not, instruments of varying validity were utilized. There needs to be a greater emphasis on the evaluation of QoL, with the use of standard and validated QoL tools in MBC clinical trials, especially as we increasingly focus on progression-based endpoints.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8609-8609 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Rosenzweig ◽  
T. Wiehagen ◽  
A. M. Brufsky ◽  
R. M. Arnold

8609 Background: Response to a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) may vary according to race and income. The aims of this study were: 1) to identify quality of life, symptom distress and challenges of illness during MBC treatment and 2) to determine if these variables differ according to race and income. Methods: The study was a 2×2 prospective design conducted at an urban breast cancer center. Women with MBC were categorized into four groups based on race and income: white low (WL), white high (WH), African American high (AAH) and African American low (AAL). Instruments were 1) Symptom Distress Scale (SDS), (higher scores /worse distress) 2) Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT), (higher scores/better QOL) and a 3) semi structured interview assessing patient perspectives of MBC. Interview analysis utilized grounded theory. Results: Preliminary results are for 51 women. Mean age was 58.2 years, with mean 24 months since MBC diagnosis. Quantitative data indicated worse quality of life in AA than white women. (P=0.06), with AALI women exhibiting worse symptom distress (P=0.03) as compared to white women. Qualitative data (n=48) corroborated quantitative data. The most prevalent themes among all sociodemographic groups were of hope (33/48 - 69%), faith (28/48 - 58%) and progressive loss (29/48, 60%). Each racial/economic delineation expressed unique themes: AALI talked about physical (7/7,100%)and social distress (6/7, 86%) as well as uncertainty regarding “whether treatment was worth it” (6/7 - 86%). WLI women verbalized an overall optimism, describing themselves as “lucky” (6/14 - 43%), with minimization of symptoms (10/14 - 71%). WHI women articulated a sense of betrayal at their progressive illness (9/20 - 45%) and fear of physical and economic dependence. Conclusion: Race and economic delineation brings unique symptom experience, quality of life and patient perspective to the metastatic breast cancer experience. These findings will advise tailored intervention. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.


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