Quality of Life and the Treatment of Advanced Lung Cancer

Effects of Symptom Burden on Quality of Life in Patients with Lung Cancer

Lung cancer patients suffer from numerous symptoms that impact their quality of life. This study aims to identify the symptom burden on quality of life in lung cancer patients. This survey used a structured questionnaire to collect data from 8 March 2021 to 12 May 2021. Patient demographic information was collected. The data on symptom burden and quality of life (QOL) of patients were obtained from the QLQ-C30 and the QLQ-LC13. The stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to estimate lung cancer-related symptom burden in relation to quality of life. The study included 159 patients with lung cancer who completed the questionnaire. The mean age of the patients was 63.12 ± 11.4 years, and 64.8% of them were female. The Global Quality of Life score of the QLQ-C30 was 67.87 ± 22.24, and the top five lung cancer-related symptoms were insomnia, dyspnea, and fatigue from the QLQ-C30, and coughing and dyspnea from the QLQ-LC13. The multiple regression analysis showed that appetite loss was the most frequently associated factor for global QOL (β = -0.32; adjusted R2: 27%) and cognitive function (β = -0.15; adjusted R2: 11%), while fatigue was associated with role function (β = -0.35; adjusted R2: 43%), emotional function (β = -0.26; adjusted R2: 9%), and social function (β = -0.26; adjusted R2: 27%). Dyspnea was associated with physical function (β = -0.45; adjusted R2: 42%). Appetite loss, fatigue, and dyspnea were the main reasons causing symptom burdens on quality of life for lung cancer patients. Decreasing these symptoms can improve the quality of life and survival for patients with lung cancer.

Real-World Treatment Patterns and Survival Among Patients with Stage I-III, Non-Squamous, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Surgery as Primary Treatment

INTRODUCTION

Approximately half of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present with early-stage disease at diagnosis. Real-world outcomes data are limited for this population but are of interest given recent and impending results from trials evaluating epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) and immunotherapies in neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and perioperative settings.

METHODS

A retrospective, longitudinal, population-level study was conducted in patients diagnosed with resected stage I-III non-squamous NSCLC in Ontario, Canada, between April 2010 and March 2019. Study outcomes included patient characteristics and median overall survival (mOS), with stratification by disease stage and treatment exposure. Patients receiving EGFR-TKIs (assumed EGFR mutation-positive by proxy) were a key population of interest.

RESULTS

Among 8255 cases, 4881 had stage I, 2124 had stage II, and 1250 had stage III NSCLC at diagnosis. The mean patient age was 68 years; 53.5% were female. In the overall cohort, 19.6% received adjuvant chemotherapy. Receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with significantly longer mOS than not receiving such therapy: stage II (7.6 [95% confidence interval: 6.5-8.5] vs. 4.4 [4.0-4.9] years) or stage III (4.4 [3.6-5.1] vs. 2.7 [2.3-3.3] years), both p < 0.0001. Patients receiving treatment (EGFR-TKIs and chemotherapy) were assumed to have experienced disease recurrence/relapse; mOS was longer among those receiving an EGFR-TKI than among those receiving chemotherapy (2.3 [1.8-3.0] vs. 1.1 [1.0-1.3] years).

CONCLUSION

In Ontario, between 2010 and 2019, uptake of adjuvant therapy was low among patients with resected NSCLC, despite such therapy being associated with improved survival. Patients assumed to have recurred/relapsed had markedly reduced mOS, regardless of subsequent therapy, compared with those who did not relapse/recur. Novel peri-adjuvant treatment options are needed to enhance outcomes after lung resection.

Association of patient socioeconomic status with outcomes after palliative treatment for disseminated cancer

BACKGROUND

Palliative treatment has been associated with improved quality of life and survival for a wide variety of metastatic cancers. However, it is unclear whether the benefits of palliative treatment are uniformly experienced across the US cancer population. We evaluated patterns and outcomes of palliative treatment based on socioeconomic, sociodemographic and treating facility characteristics.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2019 with Stage IV primary cancer of nine organ sites were analyzed in the National Cancer Database. The association between identified variables, and outcomes concerning the administration of palliative treatment were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

Overall 238,995 (23.6%) of Stage IV patients received palliative treatment, which increased over time for all cancers (from 20.7% in 2008 to 25.6% in 2019). Palliative treatment utilization differed significantly by region (West less than Northeast, OR: 0.55 [0.54-0.56], p < 0.001) and insurance payer status (uninsured greater than private insurance, OR: 1.35 [1.32-1.39], p < 0.001). Black race and Hispanic ethnicity were also associated with lower rates of palliative treatment compared to White and non-Hispanics respectively (OR for Blacks: 0.91 [0.90-0.93], p < 0.001 and OR for Hispanics: 0.79 [0.77-0.81] p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

There are important differences in the utilization of palliative treatment across different populations in the United States. A better understanding of variability in palliative treatment use and outcomes may identify opportunities to improve informed decision making and optimize quality of care at the end-of-life.

Effectiveness of palliative care for non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Despite increases in the survival rate for various types of cancer over the past several decades, lung cancer remains an overwhelmingly lethal disease and the majority of patients succumb to the disease in a short period of time. A number of treatment options are available depending on the stage of lung cancer. The present review focused on palliative care and is associated with stage IIIB and IV of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Stage IIIB disease is not amenable to curative treatment and for stage IV disease, treatment is palliative in nature, with a focus on increasing survival time, controlling symptoms and improving or maintaining quality of life. Palliative treatment options include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and supportive care. The present review examines the important aspects of palliative therapy with regard to NSCLC.

Analysis of the factors influencing lung cancer hospitalization expenses using data mining

Background

Hospitalization expenses for the therapy of lung cancer are not only a direct economic burden on patients, but also the focus of medical insurance departments. Therefore, the method for classifying and analyzing lung cancer hospitalization expenses so as to predict reasonable medical cost has become an issue of common interest for both hospitals and insurance institutions.

Methods

A C5.0 algorithm is adopted to analyze factors influencing hospitalization expenses of 731 lung cancer patients. A C5.0 algorithm is a data mining method used to classify calculation.

Results

Increasing the number of input variables leads to variation in the importance of different variables, but length of stay (LOS), major therapy, and medicine cost are the three variables of greater importance. They are important factors that affect the hospitalization cost of lung cancer patients. In all three calculations, the classification accuracy rate of training and testing partition sets reached 84% and above. The classification accuracy rate reached over 95% after addition of the cost variables.

Conclusion

The classification rules are proven to be in accordance with actual clinical practice. The model established by the research can also be applied to other diseases in the screening and analysis of disease hospitalization costs according to selected feature variables.

Changes in health-related quality of life and quality of care among terminally ill cancer patients and survival prediction: Multicenter prospective cohort study

Objective:

This study examined changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and quality of care (QoC) as perceived by terminally ill cancer patients and a stratified set of HRQoL or QoC factors that are most likely to influence survival at the end of life (EoL).

Method:

We administered questionnaires to 619 consecutive patients immediately after they were diagnosed with terminal cancer by physicians at 11 university hospitals and at the National Cancer Center in Korea. Subjects were followed up over 161.2 person-years until their deaths. We measured HRQoL using the core 30-item European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, and QoC using the Quality Care Questionnaire–End of Life (QCQ–EoL). We evaluated changes in HRQoL and QoC issues during the first three months after enrollment, performing sensitivity analysis by using data generated via four methods (complete case analysis, available case analysis, the last observation carried forward, and multiple imputation).

Results:

Emotional and cognitive functioning decreased significantly over time, while dyspnea, constipation, and pain increased significantly. Dignity-conserving care, care by healthcare professionals, family relationships, and QCQ–EoL total score decreased significantly. Global QoL, appetite loss, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG–PS) scores were significantly associated with survival.

Significance of results:

Future standardization of palliative care should be focused on assessment of these deteriorated types of quality. Accurate estimates of the length of life remaining for terminally ill cancer patients by such EoL-enhancing factors as global QoL, appetite loss, and ECOG–PS are needed to help patients experience a dignified and comfortable death.

Safety and feasibility of a combined exercise intervention for inoperable lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a pilot study

AIM

To investigate the safety and feasibility of a six-week supervised structured exercise and relaxation training programme on estimated peak oxygen consumption, muscle strength and health related quality of life (HRHRQOL) in patients with inoperable lung cancer, undergoing chemotherapy.

METHODS

A prospective, single-arm intervention study of supervised, hospital based muscle and cardiovascular group training and individual home-based training. Peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) was assessed using an incremental exercise test. Muscle strength was measured with one repetition maximum test (1RM). HRQOL was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) scale.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients with non-small cell cancer (NSCLC) stage III-IV and four patients with extensive disease small cell lung cancer (SCLC-ED) were recruited. Six patients (20.7%) dropped out leaving 23 patients for analysis. Exercise adherence in the group training was 73.0% and 8.7% in the home-based training. There were improvements in estimated VO(2peak) and six-minute walk distance (6 MWD) as well as increased muscle strength measurements (p<0.05). There was significant improvement in the "emotional well-being" parameter (FACT-L) while there were no significant changes in HRQOL.

CONCLUSION

Exercise training produces significant improvements in physiological indices and emotional HRQOL and is safe and feasible in patients with advanced stage lung cancer, undergoing chemotherapy. No analysis on home-based training was done because of low adherence.

Palliative care in lung cancer

Advancements in the surgical and medical treatment of lung cancer have resulted in more favorable short-term survival outcomes. After initial treatment, lung cancer requires continued surveillance and follow-up for long-term side effects and possible recurrence. The integration of quality palliative care into routine clinical care of patients with lung cancer after surgical intervention is essential in preserving function and optimizing quality of life through survivorship. An interdisciplinary palliative care model can effectively link patients to the appropriate supportive care services in a timely fashion. This article describes the role of palliative care for patients with lung cancer.

Review Article: Goals of Care Toward the End of Life: A Structured Literature Review

Goals of care are often mentioned as an important component of end-of-life discussions, but there are diverse assessments regarding the type and number of goals that should be considered. To address this lack of consensus, we searched MEDLINE (1967—2007) for relevant articles and identified the number, phrasing, and type of goals they addressed. An iterative process of categorization resulted in a list of 6 practical, comprehensive goals: (1) be cured, (2) live longer, (3) improve or maintain function/quality of life/ independence, (4) be comfortable, (5) achieve life goals, and (6) provide support for family/caregiver. These goals can be used to articulate goal-oriented frameworks to guide decision making toward the end of life and thereby harmonize patients' treatment choices with their values and medical conditions.

Improving health-related quality of life in non-small-cell lung cancer with current treatment options

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for > 80% of all lung carcinomas, with the majority of patients presenting with late-stage disease. Selection of an appropriate therapy depends on the stage of disease, with treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC often aimed at palliation of symptoms and improving the well-being of patients. Health-related quality of life (QOL) has been largely ignored as an endpoint in clinical trials for NSCLC, but there is increasing acceptance by clinicians and regulatory authorities that alleviation of symptoms and improved health-related QOL should be carefully considered. This article discusses current approaches to measuring health-related QOL. This discussion is followed by a brief review of some of the current treatment options for patients with NSCLC and their effect on health-related QOL.

Palliative care in lung cancer: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd edition)

GOALS/OBJECTIVES: To review the scientific evidence on symptoms and specific complications that are associated with lung cancer, and the methods available to palliate those symptoms and complications.

METHODS

MEDLINE literature review (through March 2006) for all studies published in the English language, including case series and case reports, since 1966 using the following medical subject heading terms: bone metastases; brain metastases; cough; dyspnea; electrocautery; hemoptysis; interventional bronchoscopy; laser; pain management; pleural effusions; spinal cord metastases; superior vena cava syndrome; and tracheoesophageal fistula.

RESULTS

Pulmonary symptoms that may require palliation in patients who have lung cancer include those caused by the primary cancer itself (dyspnea, wheezing, cough, hemoptysis, chest pain), or locoregional metastases within the thorax (superior vena cava syndrome, tracheoesophageal fistula, pleural effusions, ribs, and pleura). Respiratory symptoms can also result from complications of lung cancer treatment or from comorbid conditions. Constitutional symptoms are common and require attention and care. Symptoms referable to distant extrathoracic metastases to bone, brain, spinal cord, and liver pose additional problems that require a specific response for optimal symptom control. There are excellent scientific data regarding the management of many of these issues, with lesser evidence from case series or expert opinion on other aspects of providing palliative care for lung cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Palliation of symptoms and complications in lung cancer patients is possible, and physicians who provide such care must be knowledgeable about these issues.

Small cell lung cancer: treatment review

Lung cancer was relatively uncommon at the turn of the 20th century, and has increased in prevalence at alarming rates, particularly because of the augmented trend in smoking, so that it is now the most common cause of cancer death in the world. As almost a quarter of these cancers are of small cell in origin, it seems only appropriate that small cell lung cancer receives ample attention, rather than seemingly to have been overlooked over the last 10-15 years. Despite its generally late presentation and high risk of dissemination, it is exceptionally sensitive to chemo-radiotherapy. This review looks at the diverse options of treatment that have been used over the last few years and tries to highlight the best available. As more than 50% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer are over 70 years of age and various studies have shown that older people respond just as well as their younger counterparts, with similar results in response rates, toxicity and outcomes, it is imperative that the older generation are not disregarded in terms of age being a contraindication to therapy.

Efficient palliation in patients with small-cell lung cancer by a combination of paclitaxel, etoposide and carboplatin: quality of life and 6-years'-follow-up results from a randomised phase III trial

PURPOSE

Based on the promising activity of paclitaxel in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) we conducted a randomized phase III trial to evaluate whether a combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin and etoposide phosphate (TEC) improves survival and time to progression as well as tolerability and quality of life (QoL) compared to a regimen of carboplatin, etoposide phosphate and vincristine (CEV) in SCLC patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Six hundred and fourteen patients with stages I-IV SCLC were randomly assigned between January 1998 and December 1999 to both treatment arms. All patients were evaluated for response rate, survival, side effects and quality of life with overall survival (OS) serving as primary endpoint. A final analysis was done after a six-year follow-up. Survival curves were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves and tested with the log-rank test. Quality of life data were assessed in using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and evaluated by calculating and comparing the mean scores as well as applying longitudinal techniques.

RESULTS

Six hundred and eight patients were evaluable for efficacy and toxicity. The long-term follow-up confirms the significant survival benefit for the paclitaxel, etoposide, carboplatin (TEC) regimen with a median OS of 12.5 months compared to 11.7 months for the CEV arm (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.02-1.43; P=.030). The 5-year survival rates were 14% for the experimental versus 6 % for the CEV arm. Significant survival prolongation was also observed in the subgroup of patients with stage IV disease (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.00-1.60; P=.047). The previously reported clinical benefit in form of an overall reduction of grade 3/4 toxicity was backed by the results of the comprehensive QoL analysis we report hereby. TEC significantly improves the relevant QoL parameters like global overall QoL or physical functioning.

CONCLUSION

When administered in combination with etoposide and carboplatin, paclitaxel is able to offer in SCLC patients with extensive disease a survival benefit without additional toxicities, but with gains in patient-reported quality of life. In terms of efficient palliative care, TEC might be seen as an alternative to standard cisplatin plus etoposide in patients requesting a powerful palliative regimen not compromising any survival benefit.

Depressive symptoms after lung cancer surgery: their relation to coping style and social support

Lung cancer patients may experience greater emotional distress than patients with other cancers. Studies have shown social support to predict adjustment in other cancers, but findings among lung cancer patients have been equivocal. Coping style has been shown to predict distress among lung cancer patients, but has not been examined in the context of social support. We examined coping style and social support as predictors of depressive symptoms one week after surgery among 119 patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The Beck Depression Inventory was the primary outcome measure. Predictors included age, ECOG performance status, stage of disease, and measures of adaptive coping, less adaptive coping, Directive instrumental social support and Nondirective instrumental social support. Results indicated that 29% of lung cancer patients had scores above a standard cutoff for clinically significant depression. Results also showed that depressive symptoms were directly related to use of less adaptive coping methods and Directive instrumental social support, inversely related to age and use of adaptive coping methods, and unrelated to nondirective social support, stage of disease and performance status. Results extend previous findings by showing that adaptive coping methods are related to severity of distress, and that the benefits of social support may depend on the characteristics of that support.

Quality of life in terminal care—with special reference to age, gender and marital status

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to explore symptoms, other quality of life (QoL) aspects and impact of age, gender, marital status, cancer diagnosis and time of survival in patients with advanced cancer admitted to palliative care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 278 cancer patients completing the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 at referral to palliative care.

MAIN RESULTS

Gynaecological and gastro-intestinal tract cancers were the most common. Mean age was 67 years; 62% were female. Median survival was 43 days and 39% lived less than 30 days. Patients reported impaired general QoL and high occurrence of symptoms (44 and 100% for diarrhoea and fatigue, respectively). Fatigue, appetite loss and dyspnoea were reported as most severe (mean values of 80, 59 and 51, respectively, 0-100 scales). Married/cohabiting patients and younger patients reported lower functional abilities and more symptoms. No impact of diagnoses on QoL parameters was found. Patients closest to death did not differ significantly from those with longer time to live in social functioning.

CONCLUSION

Young and married patients may be at higher risk for perceived low quality of life at the end of life. EORTC QLQ-C30 could be used as a clinical tool for screening of symptoms and reduced functioning in palliative care, but may not be appropriate for use in the most severely ill patients. Limitations of the instrument and the need for robust measurements of patient mix are discussed. Proxy ratings of physical symptoms and nurse responsibility to include QoL assessment in daily practice would increase attrition and decrease selection bias.

Targeting HER1/EGFR in cancer therapy: experience with erlotinib

Research into the role of the human epidermal receptor growth factor receptor 1/epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1/EGFR) in tumorigenesis has generated a new class of anticancer drugs. One such agent, erlotinib (TarcevaTM), is a potent, selective and reversible inhibitor of HER1/EGFR tyrosine kinase activity. Erlotinib has demonstrated the clinical activity in a variety of solid tumors, and has recently demonstrated improvements in survival in large Phase III trials, in non-small-cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Quality‐of‐Life Considerations in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer: Effect of Topotecan on Symptom Palliation and Quality of Life

Key goals in the treatment of lung cancer are to improve both survival and quality of life (QOL). While formal techniques are frequently used to evaluate survival and response, such rigor is used less often in assessing the impact of treatment on quality of life. Many patients with lung cancer are elderly and have complex medical histories and a myriad of comorbidities. In these patients, with limited survival expectations, symptom palliation, quality of life, and convenience of therapy are especially important end points. Indeed, clinical trials are now incorporating symptom scores and QOL outcomes in their designs (now combined as "patient reported outcomes" or PROs). Moreover, symptom palliation correlates well with QOL and survival duration, providing further rationale for therapy selection based on these parameters. The potential palliative and QOL benefits of chemotherapy have been investigated for several agents in lung cancer trials. Of these, topotecan (Hycamtin; GlaxoSmithKline; Philadelphia, PA) is the best characterized in relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In a phase III trial of topotecan versus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin; Bedford Laboratories; Bedford, OH), and vincristine (Oncovin; Eli Lilly and Company; Indianapolis, IN) (CAV) in patients with recurrent SCLC, topotecan was associated with statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvements in general symptoms (e.g., fatigue and interference with daily activity) and disease-specific symptoms (e.g., dyspnea and hoarseness). Moreover, the introduction of oral therapies, such as oral topotecan, may increase the convenience of therapy by reducing the time needed for therapy and the need for frequent venipuncture. This review summarizes the role of chemotherapy in symptom palliation, with an emphasis on the impact of topotecan therapy on symptom parameters in patients with relapsed SCLC and the emerging role of oral therapy in this setting.

Recent advances in management of small-cell lung cancer

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a smoking-related disease with a poor prognosis. While SCLC is usually initially sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, responses are rarely long lasting. Frustratingly, most patients ultimately relapse, often with increasingly treatment resistant disease. Many strategies have been developed in an attempt to improve treatment outcomes, which have plateaued since the introduction of combination chemotherapy in the 1980s. These include trials of maintenance therapy, and dose intensification, the latter by means of increasing dose density, growth factor support and high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue. None have been shown to improve patient survival. On the other hand, the integration of concurrent thoracic radiation and prophylactic cranial irradiation has improved the survival outcomes in patients with limited disease. In extensive disease, irinotecan combined with cisplatin has shown promise in improving survival over conventional platinum/etoposide chemotherapy schedules and a confirmatory study is awaited. The future of SCLC treatment may however lie with molecularly targeted therapies, such as antiangiogenesis agents and signal transduction inhibitors, which are being studied at present.