Quality of life assessment of patients with metastatic lung cancer receiving platinum-based chemotherapy

ABSTRACT AIM: The aims of the study were to investigate, possible changes in quality of life (QOL) during chemotherapy, which factors might affect QOL and the relationship between QOL and performance status. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted at the oncology clinics of Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Patients diagnosed with advanced small-cell lung cancer or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer were enrolled in the study. They were given platinum-based chemotherapy. The QOL EORTC core questionnaire QLQ–C30 (version 3.0) and the lung cancer module QLQ-LC13 were conducted on four separate occasions. Data related to the patients’ clincal and performance status (Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPS) and ECOG) were recorded throughout the study. RESULTS: With treatment, significant increases in chemotherapy related side-effects and in symptom scales related both to adverse drug reactions and disease progression were recorded. A strong, significant, negative correlation (r = -0.71, p< 0.05) between ECOG performance and all domains of EORTC QLQ-C30 was observed, similar to that between KPS and EORTC QLQ-C30 (r = -0.74, p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: This research indicates a lack of benefit in terms of QOL from platinumbased chemotherapy in patients with metastatic lung cancer. Routine QOL assessment in this patient population may encourage the development of treatment programs which minimize chemotherapy side-effects, while maximizing patients’ well being. KEYWORDS: Small-Cell-Lung-Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell-Lung-Carcinoma, Quality of Life, Karnofsky Performance Status Scale, Chemotherapy