18140 Background: Erlotinib is an EGFR TKI that is effective in the treatment of advanced NSCLC, in terms of longer survival, better quality of life and delayed symptom progression.We present here the outcome of a group of p from the TargeT study, whose QoL was assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) questionnaire and the Lung Cancer Subscale (LCS). Methods: TargeT study was a multicenter, single-arm phase II study evaluating efficacy, safety, and tolerability of erlotinib (150 m/day) in p with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC, in 1st, 2nd and 3rd line treatment. Primary end-point was time to progression. QoL was a secondary end point as assessed monthly by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung questionnaire (FACT- L) and its Lung Cancer Subscale. Physical and functional aspects of the QoL were measured by the Trial Outcome Index (TOI), which is the sum of the physical well being, functional well-being and LCS scores from the FACT-L questionnaire. Results: Data from 91 pts were available. QoL analysis showed that 53% of the p (95% IC 37–58%) had improvement in FACT-L or TOI. Similarly, 45% (95% IC35–56%) of improved their symptoms from baseline. Improvement was observed for each individual LCS item and specifically in the pulmonary items. In symptomatic p, shortened of breath was 17,6% at baseline vs 2.2% after treatment (p<0.001) and cough was 24.7% vs 8.8 % (p<0.001) after treatment. Those improvements in symptoms were rapid and, 73% of the patients who improved showed that recovery in the first cycle of treatment. In terms of association between efficacy of erlotinib and QoL, there is a statistically significative relationship between objective response and improvement in TOI or FACT-L (p<0.02). Conclusions: This QoL analysis confirms that erlotinib improves both symptoms and functional aspect of patients with NSCLC. The improvement in QoL is related with objective response. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Quality of Life in Patients with Advanced Cancer Using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Assessment Tool: A Literature Review
