Pulmonology

Your Article Summary

See Latest Articles

Quality of life supersedes the classic prognosticators for long-term survival in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: An analysis of RTOG 9801
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 11/02/09

Movsas B et al. –The goal of this study was to determine the added value of quality of life (QOL) as a prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group RTOG-9801. In this analysis, baseline global QOL score replaced known prognostic factors as the sole predictor of long-term OS for patients with locally advanced NSCLC.

• 243 patients with stage II/IIIAB NSCLC received induction paclitaxel and carboplatin (PC) and then concurrent weekly PC and hyperfractionated radiation
• Patients randomly assigned to amifostine (AM) or no AM during chemoradiotherapy
• Following pretreatment factors analyzed as prognostic factors for OS: Karnofsky performance status, stage, sex, age, race, marital status, histology, tumor location, hemoglobin, tobacco use, treatment arm (AM v no AM) and QOL scores (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 )and Lung Cancer 13
• Multivariate (MVA) Cox proportional hazards model performed using backwards selection process

• Of 239 analyzable patients, 91% had baseline global QOL score
• Median follow-up time 59 months for patients still alive and 17 months for all patients
• Median baseline QLQ-C30 global QOL score 66.7 on both treatment arms
• Whether global QOL score treated as dichotomized variable (based on the median score) or a continuous variable
• All other variables fell out of MVA for OS
• Patients with global QOL score less than 66.7 had approximately 70% higher rate of death than patients with scores ≥ 66.7
• 10-point higher baseline global QOL score corresponded to decrease in hazard of death by approximately 10%
• Other independent QOL predictors for OS were QLQ-C30 physical functioning and LC-13 dyspnea scores

Today in Lung/Thoracic Oncology...keeping you current

Receive free subspecialty "5-minute updates" via email

Maintenance pemetrexed plus best supportive care versus placebo plus best supportive care for non-small-cell lung cancer: A randomised, double-blind, phase III study
The Lancet, 10/26/09

Phase II study of cisplatin plus etoposide and bevacizumab for previously untreated, extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 10/29/09

New Advances in the Second-Line Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer
The Oncologist, 10/28/09

See All of Lung/Thoracic Oncology