Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2005 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings.
Vol 23, No 16S (June 1 Supplement), 2005: 8036
© 2005 American Society of Clinical Oncology

This Article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Download to citation manager Rights & Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Oliveira, C. Articles by Garicochea, B. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Oliveira, C. Articles by Garicochea, B.

Abstract

Quality of life (QoL) improvements in patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) receiving capecitabine (X)

Inst Brasileiro de Controle do Câncer, São Paulo, Brazil; Hosp Amaral Carvalho, Jaú, Brazil; Inst do Câncer do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil; Ctr de Quimioterapia A. e Imunoterapia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Hosp Escola da FAU, Pelotas, Brazil; Hosp Santa Rita de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Ctr de Referência da Saúde da Mulher, São Paulo, Brazil; Hosp das Clínicas de Curitiba, Curitiba, Brazil; Beneficência Portuguesa de Santos, Santos, Brazil; Hosp da PUC de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil

8036

Background: The oral fluoropyrimidine X is highly active and well tolerated as single-agent therapy and extends survival when added to docetaxel in MBC. In addition to response rates and survival times, pt preference for oral therapy and QoL are increasingly important considerations in MBC. QoL data would add to understanding the pt benefits of X. Methods: QoL was evaluated in women with anthracycline +/- taxane-pretreated MBC while receiving X (baseline, before cycle 1, at weeks 7 and 13, and at treatment end) using EORTC QLQ C-30 (v3.0) and BR-23 questionnaires. We used linear models with repeated measures (generalized estimating questions technique) and SAS (v8.2) to determine improvement, stabilization or worsening of QoL scores from week 7 on onwards. Results: Baseline characteristics of the 907 evaluable pts were: median age 53 years (range 22–90), median ECOG PS 1 (range 0–4), and most pts (82%) were Caucasian. Of these, at least 70% had stable or improved QoL for most scales during X treatment, including functional QoL (QLQ C-30 and QLQ BR-38) and symptomatic QoL (QLQ C-30). Pts receiving X also had a significant, sustained improvement (p<0.0001 unless stated) in the following: global health status; role and emotional functioning; social functioning (p=0.0054); fatigue (p=0.0002); nausea/vomiting; pain; insomnia; appetite loss; constipation; diarrhea (p=0.0005); financial problems; body image; future perspective; systemic therapy side effects; breast symptoms; arm symptoms (p=0.0006); and hair loss. Conclusions: Pts receiving X had a significant and sustained improvement in global health status, with substantial improvements in almost all functional and symptomatic QoL domains. These findings highlight the importance of considering QoL and other measurable benefits of oral treatments alongside well-established measures of clinical evaluation in pts with metastatic disease. The QoL benefits, together with other proven clinical outcomes, suggest that earlier use of X in MBC would be of benefit to pts.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Abstract presentation from the 2005 ASCO Annual Meeting