The humanistic burden of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Europe: a real-world survey linking patient clinical factors to patient and caregiver burden

Patient-reported outcomes with selpercatinib treatment in patients with RET-driven cancers in the phase I/II LIBRETTO-001 trial

BACKGROUND

This post-hoc retrospective study describes long-term patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for REarranged during Transfection (RET)-altered non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), non-MTC thyroid cancer (TC), and tumor agnostic (TA) patients (Data cut-off: January 2023) from the LIBRETTO-001 trial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30). Patients with MTC also completed a modified version of the Systemic Therapy-Induced Diarrhea Assessment Tool (mSTIDAT). The proportion of patients with improved, stable, or worsened status after baseline was reported. PROs were summarized at 3 years (cycle 37) post-baseline for the NSCLC and MTC cohorts, and at 2 years (cycle 25) post-baseline for the TC and TA cohorts. Time-to-event outcomes (time to first improvement or worsening and duration of improvement) were reported.

RESULTS

The baseline assessment was completed by 200 (63.3%), 209 (70.8%), 50 (76.9%), and 38 (73.1%) patients in the NSCLC, MTC, TC, and TA cohorts, respectively. The total compliance rate was 80%, 82%, 70%, and 85%, respectively. Approximately 75% (NSCLC), 81% (MTC), 75% (TC), and 40% (TA) of patients across all cohorts reported improved or stable QLQ-C30 scores at year 3 (NSCLC and MTC) or year 2 (TC and TA) with continuous selpercatinib use. Across cohorts, the median time to first improvement ranged from 2.0 to 19.4 months, the median duration of improvement ranged from 1.9 to 28.2 months, and the median time to first worsening ranged from 5.6 to 44.2 months. The total compliance rate for the mSTIDAT was 83.7% and the proportion of patients with MTC who reported diarrhea on the mSTIDAT was reduced from 80.8% at baseline to 35.6% at year 3.

CONCLUSIONS

A majority of patients with RET-driven cancers improved or remained stable on most QLQ-C30 domains, demonstrating favorable health-related quality of life as measured by the QLQ-C30 during long-term treatment with selpercatinib.

Factors influencing cancer patients' caregivers' burden and quality of life: An integrative review

This integrative review assessed the factors influencing cancer patients' caregivers' burden and quality of life (QoL). Relevant studies were retrieved from five electronic databases and screened. After systematic screening by title, abstract, and full text, the review included 15 studies published between 2000 and 2022 and used an interpretive thematic synthesis design for analysis. Age (older), sex (male), high work requirements, relationships with patients, low-income levels, high subjective stress, patient dependency level, and trait anxiety were significantly associated with higher caregiver burden. Factors associated with the low QoL of caregivers were age (less than 35 years), caregiving role (more responsibility), relationship with patients (first-degree relative), low income, living in the same home with the patient, and higher social and family responsibilities. A moderate negative correlation (n = 6) was identified between the sum of the QoL scores and the burden. Future research should be integrated into identifying appropriate means to support caregivers of patients with chronic diseases, including cancer by segregating interventions to target specific caregiver populations.

Symptoms and Experiences with Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Mixed Methods Study of Patients and Caregivers

INTRODUCTION

Understanding of the patient-perceived symptom burden of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is limited. The objective of this study was to explore patients' experiences with SCLC, identify which treatment-/disease-related symptoms have the greatest impact on their well-being, and gain caregiver perspectives.

METHODS

A noninterventional, cross-sectional, multimodal, mixed methods study was conducted from April-June 2021. Adult patients with SCLC and unpaid caregivers were eligible to participate. Patients' experiences, captured via 5-day video diaries and follow-up interviews, were scored 1-10 on how bothersome the patients perceived each symptom/symptomatic adverse event. Patients indicated if they believed a symptom was disease or treatment related. Caregivers participated in an online community board.

RESULTS

The study included nine patients (five with extensive-stage [ES] disease, four with limited-stage [LS] disease) and nine caregivers. Except for one patient/caregiver pairing, patients and caregivers were unmatched. The most common impactful symptoms in patients with ES-SCLC were shortness of breath, fatigue, coughing, chest pain, and nausea/vomiting; in LS-SCLC, these were fatigue and shortness of breath. Among patients with ES disease, SCLC had a high impact on physical (leisure/hobbies, work, sleep, ability to do household chores and errands/responsibilities outside home), social (family dynamics, extrafamilial social interaction), and emotional (mental health) aspects. Patients with LS-SCLC faced the long-term physical effects of treatment, financial implications, and emotional toll of an uncertain prognosis. SCLC had a high personal and psychologic burden among caregivers, whose duties consumed much of their time. Caregivers observed similar symptoms and impacts of SCLC as those reported by patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides valuable insight into patient- and caregiver-perceived burden of SCLC and can inform the design of prospective studies. Clinicians should seek to understand patients' opinions and priorities before making treatment decisions.

Evaluation of quality of life in lung cancer patients receiving radiation and Viscum album L.: a real-world data study

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer (LC) is associated with high mortality and poor quality of life (QoL). The disease as well as oncological treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy with adverse effects can impair the QoL of patients. Add-on treatment with extracts of Viscum album L. (white-berry European mistletoe, VA) has been shown to be feasible and safe and to improve the QoL of cancer patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in QoL of LC patients being treated with radiation according to oncological guidelines and add-on VA treatment in a real-world setting.

METHODS

A real-world data study was conducted using registry data. Self-reported QoL was assessed by the evaluation of the European Organization of Research and Treatment Health-Related Quality of Life Core Questionnaire scale (EORTC QLQ-C30). Adjusted multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to analyze factors associated with changes in QoL at 12 months.

RESULTS

A total of 112 primary LC patients (all stages, 92% non-small-cell lung cancer, median age 70 (ICR: 63-75)), answered the questionnaires at first diagnosis and 12 months later. Assessment of 12 months changes in QoL revealed significant improvement of 27 points for pain (p = 0.006) and 17 points for nausea/vomiting (p = 0.005) in patients who received combined radiation and VA. In addition, significant improvements of 15 to 21 points for role (p = 0.03), physical (p = 0.02), cognitive (p = 0.04), and social functioning (p = 0.04) were observed in guideline treated patients receiving no radiation but add-on VA.

CONCLUSIONS

Add-on VA therapy reveals supportive effects for the QoL of LC patients. Particularly in combination with radiation a significant reduction in pain and nausea/ vomiting has been observed. Trial registration The study received ethics approval and was retrospectively registered (DRKS00013335 on 27/11/2017).

Cost-benefit analysis of ALK diagnosis vs. non-diagnosis in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer in Spain

Introduction

In recent years, target therapies to specific molecular alterations in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been identified and have shown superior efficacy compared to non-targeted treatments. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is one of the therapeutic targets; nevertheless, ALK diagnosis is not performed in all NSCLC patients in Spain. The objective of this study is to estimate in monetary terms the benefit for the Spanish society of ALK diagnosis in advanced NSCLC patients.

Methods

A cost-benefit analysis of ALK diagnosis vs. non-diagnosis in advanced NSCLC patients was carried out from the Spanish social perspective, with a time horizon of 5 years. Costs, benefits and the cost-benefit ratio were measured. The analysis has considered the overall survival in advanced NSCLC patients treated with the ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) alectinib. The natural history of NSCLC was simulated using a Markov model. A 3% discount rate was applied to both costs and benefits. The result was tested using a deterministic sensitivity analysis.

Results

The cost of ALK diagnosis vs. non-diagnosis in the base case would be €10.19 million, generating benefits of €11.71 million. The cost-benefit ratio would be €1.15. In the sensitivity analysis, the cost-benefit ratio could range from €0.89 to €2.10.

Conclusions

The results justify the universal application of ALK diagnosis in advanced NSCLC, which generates a benefit for Spanish society that outweighs its costs and allows optimal treatment with targeted therapies for these patients.

Humanistic Spirit Training of Medical Students Based on Multisource Medical Data Fusion

Medical colleges need to strengthen the cultivation of medical students' humanistic and spiritual literacy. First of all, schools need to change the current educational concept and the cultivation mode of humanistic quality. In educational work, schools should pay attention to the social cognitive skills of medical students, and at the same time pay attention to the cultivation of students' basic qualities. Schools need to find problems in time, and schools need to take corresponding measures to deal with these problems. Medical colleges need to strengthen the training of medical students' comprehensive quality and incorporate humanistic education into the goal of all-round development of medical students. Specifically, schools need to adopt a work method of distributed implementation and distributed guidance to fully mobilize the enthusiasm and initiative of school leaders, teachers, and students themselves. Schools need to strengthen inspection and supervision and summarize the experiences and lessons that students have learned in their learning. On this basis, schools need to improve the quality and efficiency of students' humanities education work. Through the analysis of multisource medical data, this paper conducts research on the working mode of humanistic quality cultivation in medical colleges. Specifically, school education will be people-centered. Schools need to cultivate the humanistic spirit of medical students in the ideological and political education work. This paper conducts mathematical statistical analysis based on multisource medical data and analyzes the differences in the effect of different teaching modes and training methods on the cultivation of medical students' humanistic spiritual literacy. Based on this, the research proposes recommendations for the future development of medical schools. First of all, schools need to build a humanized classroom, combine skills education with moral education, and improve the learning efficiency of student groups. In addition, schools need to teach students to feel respected and valued. Secondly, schools need to implement human-oriented teaching work to give full play to students' own talents and personalities. During school education work, schools need to organically combine classroom education and social practice. Schools need to link teaching and real society and link students' learning process with real life. Schools need to organically combine reading and learning with life, so as to promote the all-round development of students' humanistic quality.

RNA-based next generation sequencing in non-small-cell lung cancer in a routine setting: an experience from an Italian referral center

Aim: ALK, ROS1, NTRK and RET gene fusions and MET exon 14 skipping alterations represent novel predictive biomarkers for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, testing patients for these genetic variants is crucial for choosing the best selective treatment. Over the last couple of decades, next generation sequencing (NGS) platforms have emerged as an extremely useful tool for detecting these variants. Materials & methods: In the present study, we report our NGS molecular records produced during a year of diagnostic activity. Results: Overall, our in-house developed NGS workflow successfully analyzed n = 116/131 (88.5%) NSCLC samples. Of these, eight (6.8%) and five (4.3%) out of 116 patients harbored ALK and RET gene rearrangements, respectively: one case harbored ROS1 gene fusion (0.7%). Conclusion: Our results highlight that an RNA-based NGS analysis can reliably detect gene fusion alterations, thereby playing a pivotal role in the management of NSCLC patients.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma: treatment patterns and humanistic burden of disease in Europe

Background

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive and rare tumour with poor prognosis. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease and there is a paucity of data on the humanistic burden of MPM in terms of impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and activity. This study examined real-world treatment patterns and humanistic disease burden of MPM in Europe.

Methods

Physicians abstracted demographic/clinical characteristics and treatment data from MPM-patient medical records; MPM patients self-completed a questionnaire including symptoms, 3-level-EQ-5D questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Lung Cancer Symptom Scale for Mesothelioma (LCSS-Meso), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire.

Results

Physicians (n = 171) abstracted data of 1390 patients; 767/1390 patients self-completed questionnaires. Patients were elderly with advanced, unresectable MPM. Treatment patterns followed guidelines with most (81%) patients receiving platinum+antifolate chemotherapy at first line (1 L). Maintenance treatment use was high (51.1%) despite no recommended maintenance therapies. Symptom burden was high and health states and HRQoL were poor at 1; declining further with progression. Overall mean (SD): LCSS-Average Symptom Burden Index score was 48.8 (19.3; n = 758); EQ-5D Utility Index score was 0.510 (0.349; n = 763); EQ-5D VAS score was 54.2 (20.3;n = 766); LCSS-3-Item Global Index score was 143.2 (64.5; n = 762); LCSS-normal activities score was 51.9 (24.6;n = 765); WPAI-activity impairment was 56.0% (23.2%; n = 737).

Conclusion

The humanistic burden of MPM is high, despite treatments being prescribed as per available guidance. Treatments that delay progression and provide palliation of symptoms are most likely to improve/maintain HRQoL.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09750-7.

Illness perception profiles and psychological and physical symptoms in newly diagnosed advanced non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

Of all cancers, advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with the highest burden on mental and physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Patients' subjective beliefs about their cancer (i.e., illness perceptions) may influence coping responses and treatment decisions and affect health. To identify cognitive and emotional perceptions and their association with patient characteristics and illness circumstances, the relationship between illness perception schemas and psychological and physical responses and symptoms were studied.

METHOD

Patients newly diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC (N = 186) enrolled in a prospective cohort study (NCT03199651) completed measures of illness perceptions; anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms; and health status. Latent profile analysis identified illness perception profiles. Hierarchical linear regressions tested profile assignment as a correlate of responses and symptoms.

RESULTS

A three-profile solution was optimal. Patients with a "struggling" profile (n = 83; 45%) reported the most negative perceptions; patients with a "coping" profile (n = 41; 22%) reported relatively positive perceptions; and patients with a "coping but concerned" profile (n = 62; 33%) endorsed high illness concern but relatively positive perceptions otherwise. Patients with a "struggling" profile reported the highest levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, overall physical symptoms, cough, dyspnea, and pain, and the poorest self-rated health.

CONCLUSIONS

New data add to the clinical portrayal of patients coping with NSCLC since the availability of new therapies and survival improvements. Other disease groups have reported a predominance of positive perceptions, rather than ones of significant cognitive and emotional struggles found here. Illness perception data may provide content-rich resources for intervention tailoring. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Factors Related to the Caregiving Burden on Families of Korean Patients With Lung Cancer

The purposes of this study were to describe caregiver burden on families of patients with lung cancer and to examine its associated factors, including patient symptoms and symptom clusters. In this cross-sectional study, 120 patient-caregiver dyads were recruited from an outpatient clinic in a tertiary care hospital. Patient symptoms and caregiver burden were measured with structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. Three patient symptom clusters were identified. Hierarchical regression showed that a patient's smoking history; caregiver age, education, health status, depression, social support, monthly family income, relationship with patient, and time spent on nursing each day; and presence of another caregiver explained 41.4% of the total variance in caregiver burden. When patient symptom clusters were added to regression model, change in total variance in caregiver burden was significant. To reduce their burden, caregivers should be taught how cancer progresses and its major symptoms after chemotherapy.

Prognostic value of Quality of life (QoL) assessment among Tunisian lung cancer patients

OBJECTIF

Etudier la valeur pronostique de l'évaluation de la qualité de vie (QDV) pour la survie chez les patients Tunisiens atteints du CDP. Méthodes: Une étude prospective de cohorte a été réalisée entre Janvier 2018 et Juin 2019. Le Performance status (PS), QoL questionnairecore30 (QLQ-C30), QoL questionnaire-Lung Cancer 13 (QLQ-LC13) et European QoL-5 dimensions-3level version questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) ont été utilisés pour l'évaluation de la QDV. Les patients ont été divisés en 2 groupes selon le score global QLQ-C30, un Déficit Cliniquement Significatif (DCS) a été considéré si le score était ≤50. Les modèles de régression de Cox et Stepwise ont été réalisée pour évaluer la signification pronostique de la QDV. La survie globale (SG) a été calculée à l'aide de la méthode de Kaplan-Meier. Le test du log-rank a été utilisé pour comparer les courbes de survie. Le seuil de valeur de p pour la signification statistique était de 0,05. Résultats: Cent patients ont été inclus. La médiane de SG des patients avec DCS en qualité de vie était significativement inférieure à celle des patients sans déficit : respectivement 365 jours versus 467 jours, (test du log-rank, p = 0,036). De même pour la médiane de survie sans progression : 122 jours versus 326 jours pour ceux qui n'ont pas signalé de différence significative en QDV (test du log-rank, p = 0,05). L'analyse de régression multivariée stepwise a montré que le score global de QDV (QLQ-C30) était un facteur prédictif significatif de SG (coefficient estimate (CE)= 0.336, p=0.005), ainsi que le stade IV (CE=-0.193, p=0.033) et la progression tumorale (CE =-0.238, p=0.047).

CONCLUSION

La QDV était un facteur prédictif de survie dans notre cohorte de patients atteints de CDP. Cela devrait recommander une intervention active en soins palliatifs précoces pour les patients présentant un déficit significatif en QDV.

Functional Decline in the Cancer Patient: A Review

A decline in functional status, an individual's ability to perform the normal activities required to maintain adequate health and meet basic needs, is part of normal ageing. Functional decline, however, appears to be accelerated in older patients with cancer. Such decline can occur as a result of a cancer itself, cancer treatment-related factors, or a combination of the two. The accelerated decline in function seen in older patients with cancer can be slowed, or even partly mitigated through routine assessments of functional status and timely interventions where appropriate. This is particularly important given the link between functional decline and impaired quality of life, increased mortality, comorbidity burden, and carer dependency. However, a routine assessment of and the use of interventions for functional decline do not typically feature in the long-term care of cancer survivors. This review outlines the link between cancer and subsequent functional decline, as well as potential underlying mechanisms, the tools that can be used to assess functional status, and strategies for its prevention and management in older patients with cancer.

Patient and Caregiver Preferences for First-Line Treatments of Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Discrete Choice Experiment

PURPOSE

The approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic non-small-cell lung carcinomas (mNSCLC) treatment has presented more care options. Therefore, it is important to identify the benefit-risk trade-offs patients and caregivers are willing to make among potential treatment options. This study quantified the preferences of patients and caregivers for attributes of mNSCLC treatment.

METHODS

Patients with mNSCLC and caregivers completed an online survey assessing preferences using a discrete choice experiment. Respondents chose between hypothetical treatment profiles, with varying levels for 7 attributes associated with first-line treatment, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, select adverse events (AEs), and regimen (caregivers). Hierarchical Bayesian modeling was used to estimate attribute-level preference weights.

RESULTS

Patients (n = 308) and caregivers (n = 166) most valued increasing OS from 11 to 30 months, followed by decreasing the risk of a serious AE (grade 3/4) that may lead to hospitalization from 70% to 18%. These attributes were over twice as important to both sets of respondents as the other attributes measured. Patients and caregivers would accept increases in the risks of a serious AE (grade 3/4) from 18% to 70% and all grades nausea from 10% to 69% if OS increased by 16.8 and 4.0 months, respectively. The least valued attributes were all grades of pneumonitis (patients) and all grades of skin rash (caregivers).

CONCLUSION

Patients and caregivers are willing to make trade-offs between efficacy and toxicity and may require up to 1.5 years of increased OS to accept a higher risk of AEs. These results can provide guidance to oncologists when engaging in shared-decision making discussions.

Cancer-related fatigue in hospitalised patients treated for lymphoma and its burden on family caregivers

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in patients with lymphoma and to explore the burden of CRF on the family caregivers (FCs).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital in China. Patients with lymphoma who received treatment in the in-patient ward of the Haematology Department were consecutively recruited. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to gather information related to the patients' sociodemographic characteristics and perceived CRF and its burden on the FCs. Cochran-Armitage trend analysis and Multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to determine the association between CRF and the FCs' burden.

RESULTS

Of the 116 cancer patient-FC dyads, about 70% of patients experienced some level of fatigue, while 51% of unpaid family members suffered some degree of depression. The Cochran-Armitage trend analysis showed that the FCs' burden significantly increased with the severity of CRF. Logistic regression indicated that the FCs of the patients reporting fatigue experienced a higher burden in both the unadjusted and adjusted models.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of CRF appeared to be high among patients with lymphoma. It might be important to design innovative health-promoting practices for ameliorating or preventing the impact of fatigue.

The Impasse on Overall Survival in Oncology Reimbursement Decision-Making: How Can We Resolve This?

Mature overall survival (OS) data are often unavailable at the time of regulatory and reimbursement decisions for a new cancer treatment. For patients with early-stage cancers treated with potentially curative treatments, demonstrating an OS benefit may take years and may be confounded by subsequent lines of therapy or crossover to the investigational treatment. For patients with advanced-stage cancers, mature OS data may be available but difficult to interpret for similar reasons. There are strong opinions about approval and reimbursement in the absence of mature OS data, with concerns over delay in patient access set against concerns about uncertainty in long-term benefit. This position paper reflects our individual views as patient advocate, clinician or health economist on one aspect of this debate. We look at payer decisions in the absence of mature OS data, considering when and how non-OS trial outcomes could inform decision-making and how uncertainty can be addressed beyond the trial, supporting these views with evidence from the literature. We consider when it is reasonable for payers to expect or not expect mature OS data at the initial reimbursement decision (based on criteria such as cancer stage and treatment efficacy) acknowledging that there are settings in which mature OS data are expected. We propose flexible strategies for generating and appraising patient-relevant evidence, including context-relevant endpoints and quality of life measures, when survival rates are good and mature OS data are not expected. We note that fair reimbursement is important; this means valuing patient benefit as shown through prespecified endpoints and reappraising if there is ongoing uncertainty or failure to show a sustained benefit. We suggest that reimbursement systems continue to evolve to align with scientific advances, because innovation is only meaningful if readily accessible to patients. The proposed strategies have the potential to promote thorough assessment of potential benefit to patients and lead to timely access to effective medicines.

Caregiver burden among family caregivers of incurable cancer patients in two eastern Mediterranean countries

Background

Although family caregivers (FCs) play an important role in the care provided to incurable cancer patients in our region, little is known about the burden they experience.

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of caregiver burden (CB) among FCs of incurable cancer patients in two Eastern Mediterranean countries and to identify factors that may be associated with significant CB.

Methods

The study included 218 FCs, 165 from Egypt and 53 from Saudi Arabia. The 22-item Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-22) was used to assess caregiver burden CB. Significant CB was defined as a ZBI-22 score ≥ 21. The assistance with basic ADLs was classified into 3 levels according to FCs’ assistance with early/middle/late-loss basic ADLs. The relationship between CB and the assistance with ADLs and other factors was studied.

Results

The mean (SD) ZBI-22 score among FCs was 23.4 (9.3) and the majority (128/218, 59%) had significant CB. Eighty-nine percent of FCs assisted with at least one basic ADL. Assistance with late-loss basic ADLs, best supportive care treatment plan and poorer performance status were associated with higher CB (p < 0.0001, =0.018 and = 0.005). However, in logistic regression analysis, only assistance with late-loss ADLs was independently associated with significant CB (OR = 3.4 [95%CI:1.2–9.7], p = 0.024).

Conclusion

A substantial proportion of FCs of incurable cancer patients in our region experience significant CB. Family caregivers assisting with late-loss basic ADLs are at risk of significant CB and should be routinely screened for CB.

Patient-Reported Outcomes with Selpercatinib Among Patients with RET Fusion-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Phase I/II LIBRETTO-001 Trial

BACKGROUND

LIBRETTO-001 is an ongoing, global, open-label, phase I/II study of selpercatinib in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. We report interim patient-reported outcomes in patients with RET fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) version 3.0 at baseline (cycle 1, day 1), approximately every other 28-day cycle until cycle 13, and every 12 weeks thereafter. Data were evaluated through cycle 13 as few patients had reached later time points. A change of ≥10 points from baseline in domain scores was considered clinically meaningful.

RESULTS

Among 253 selpercatinib-treated patients, 239 were categorized into subgroups by prior therapy: treatment-naïve (n = 39), one prior line of therapy (n = 64), or two or more prior lines of therapy (n = 136). The QLQ-C30 was completed by >85% of patients at each time point. Most patients overall and in each subgroup maintained or improved in all health-related quality of life (HRQoL) domains during treatment. The percentage of patients who experienced clinically meaningful improvements ranged from 61.1% to 66.7% for global health status, 33.3% to 61.1% for dyspnea, and 46.2% to 63.0% for pain. The 61.1% of patients with improved dyspnea had two or more prior lines of therapy; median time to first improvement was 3.4 months. At the first postbaseline evaluation (cycle 3), 45.9% of all patients reported a ≥ 10-point reduction in pain.

CONCLUSION

In this interim analysis, the majority of patients with RET fusion-positive NSCLC remained stable or improved on all QLQ-C30 subscales at each study visit, demonstrating favorable HRQoL as measured by the QLQ-C30 during treatment with selpercatinib.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) generally experience greater symptom burden and lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as the disease progresses. In a phase I/II trial, improvements in HRQoL were observed in over 60% of patients with advanced RET fusion-positive NSCLC who received selpercatinib, a highly selective RET inhibitor. More than one third of patients reported a reduction in dyspnea during study participation, and nearly half reported a reduction in pain by the first follow-up assessment.

Self-care, resilience, and caregiver burden in relatives of patients with advanced cancer: results from the eQuiPe study

PURPOSE

Relatives are often involved in caregiving for patients with advanced cancer and carry a heavy burden. Self-care and resilience might be beneficial to enhance their wellbeing and burden-bearing capacity. This study assessed the engagement in self-care and resilience in relatives of patients with advanced cancer and its association with their caregiver burden.

METHODS

This study analyzed baseline data of the eQuiPe study, a prospective longitudinal, multicenter, observational study on quality of care and life of patients with advanced cancer and their relatives in which self-care (Self-care Practices Scale), resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), and caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI)) of relatives were included. Their scores were compared with a gender- and age-matched normative population. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between self-care and resilience with caregiver burden.

RESULTS

Most of the 746 relatives were the patient's partner (78%) and 54% reported to be an informal caregiver of the patient. The median hours of caregiving a week for all relatives was 15 and 11% experienced high caregiver burden (ZBI > 20). Relatives who reported a high caregiver burden engaged less often in self-care (OR = .87) and were less resilient (OR = .76) compared to relatives with low/medium caregiver burden. Relatives with high caregiver burden were younger (OR = .96), highly educated (OR = 2.08), often reported to be an informal caregiver of the patient (OR = 2.24), and were less well informed about the importance of self-care (OR = .39).

CONCLUSION

A significant number of relatives of patients with advanced cancer experienced high caregiver burden. As more self-care and resilience were associated with lower experienced caregiver burden, creating awareness of the beneficial potential of self-care is important. Future studies should illuminate the causal relation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NTR6584 (date of registration: 30 June 2017).

Association of HIF1-α gene polymorphisms with advanced non-small cell lung cancer prognosis in patients receiving radiation therapy

We investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the HIF1A gene and the prognosis of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing radiation therapy. Patient overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed. The rs11549465 TT genotype was associated with poor PFS (P<0.001) and OS (P=0.001). The rs2057482 TT genotype was also associated with poor PFS (P=0.002) and OS (P=0.007). Stratified analyses revealed that these associations occurred in patients with a smoking history, squamous cell carcinoma, and stage IIIA disease, as well as those receiving radiation therapy a radiation dose of ≥70 Gy. We found associations between SNPs and PFS but not OS in patients without a smoking history, other histological types, and stage IIIB disease, as well as those undergoing chemoradiotherapy with a radiation dose of <70 Gy. No associations were observed between rs11549467 or rs110873142 and NSCLC prognosis. These results suggest that HIF1A polymorphisms can be used as independent prognostic biomarkers for NSCLC patients receiving radiation therapy.

Burden of Recurrent Pericarditis on Health-Related Quality of Life

The extent to which recurrences of pericarditis episodes impact patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate HRQOL and work productivity in patients with recurrent pericarditis (RP). Adult patients from a centralized recruitment database for the rilonacept Phase 2/3 clinical trials were invited to participate in a survey. Inclusion criteria were confirmed RP diagnosis and ≥1 recurrence within the previous 12 months. The 11-Point Pain Numeric Rating Scale, Patient Global Impression of Pericarditis Severity, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health v1.2, PROMIS Short Form Sleep Disturbance 8b, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment v2.0, and customized questions about fear and economic impact were used. In total, 83 patients (55% female, average age = 49.3 years) completed the survey. The median time since pericarditis diagnosis was 3.0 years at the time of survey completion; 49% experienced ≥3 recurrences in the previous 12 months. Forty percent had an emergency room visit, and 25% were hospitalized for their most recent recurrence. Sixty-six percent of participants rated the symptoms of their last recurrence as severe. The mean value for worst pericarditis pain (0 to 10 scale) during the most recent recurrence was 6.1. The average T-scores for PROMIS physical and mental health were 37.6 and 42.8, respectively, compared with 50 in the general population. Participants reported 50% of overall work impairment and 62% of activity impairment due to RP. In conclusion, patients with RP experienced a high number of recurrences with severe symptoms that substantially reduced their HRQOL and work productivity.

Poor patient health is associated with higher caregiver burden for older adults with advanced cancer

OBJECTIVES

Family caregiver burden among older adults with advanced cancer remains poorly understood. We sought to (1) identify patient factors associated with caregiver burden and (2) examine how amount of time caregiving modifies these relationships.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a cluster-randomized palliative care intervention trial including patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers, recruited from 17 oncology practices in Pennsylvania. Caregiver burden was measured using Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12; range 0-48). Patient factors included functional status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group), symptom burden (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and quality of life (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Palliative Care). Using adjusted multivariable regression, we analyzed (1) independent associations between patient factors and caregiver burden and (2) how weekly caregiving hours modified these relationships.

RESULTS

Among 441 patient-caregiver dyads, mean patient age was 70 ± 10 and caregiver age was 62 ± 13 years. Most caregivers (59%) were patients' partners. Caregivers reported 44.5 ± 53.5 average hours spent caregiving weekly; mean ZBI-12 scores were 10.3 ± 7.3. Worse patient functional status (β = 4.20, p < 0.01), poorer quality of life (β = -0.07, p < 0.01), more anxiety (β = 0.33, p < 0.01) and depression (β = 0.33, p < 0.01) were associated with higher caregiver burden; caregiving hours did not affect these relationships.

CONCLUSIONS

In advanced cancer, poor patient physical and mental health is associated with higher caregiver burden regardless of hours caregiving; future studies should examine interventions tailored to alleviate caregiver burden for this group.

Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety in family caregivers of patients with cancer

PURPOSE

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the caregiving burden, depression and anxiety of family caregivers of Turkish patients with cancer and the affecting factors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted between January-May 2018 with one hundred and fifty-eight caregivers and one hundred and fifty-eight patients with cancer who were treated at a university hospital in Edirne, Turkey. Data were collected with a questionnaire form, Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) Scale and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS).

RESULTS

This study found that 51.3% of the patients with cancer were male, 70.3% of the caregivers were female and more than half of them (57.0%) were the spouses of the patients. The mean ZBI score of the caregivers was 24.62 ± 14.19. There was a positive relationship between the ZBI scores and HADS scores of family caregivers (p < 0.05). As the caregiving burden of caregivers increased, their anxiety and depression levels were increased too. It was found that as the caregiving duration of family caregivers increased, the caregiving burden increased, and caregivers' anxiety depression scores got worse (p < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, the duration of caregiving per day/hours, ECOG score and the age of the caregiver independently affected the caregiving burden (p < 0.05). As the functional status of the patient with cancer got worse, caregiving burden increased. Caregiving burden was found to be higher in those who were younger, female and giving care for longer times per day (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study found that as the caregiving burden and caregivers' daily patient care duration increased, the level of anxiety and depression increased too. Caregivers of patients with cancer should take appropriate psychological intervention to decrease their distress. In addition, we thought that healthcare professionals must consider the factors affecting the caregiving burden which affect the patient care directly.

Treatment-Resistant Depression in a Real-World Setting: First Interim Analysis of Characteristics, Healthcare Resource Use, and Utility Values of the FondaMental Cohort

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is among the most common psychiatric disorders. One-third of patients are usually unresponsive to several lines of treatment. This study aimed to describe the FondaMental French cohort of patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and to estimate utility and healthcare resource use outcomes. Methods: Patients with TRD were evaluated prospectively over four years (baseline, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48 months) in a real-world clinical setting. Interim analyses focused on the first two consecutive years. Four MDD-related states (major depressive episode (MDE), response, remission, recovery) were defined based on the MADRS (Montgomery–Åsberg depression rating scale) and other clinical events. Health status was assessed with the EuroQol 5 Dimensions 5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. Utility values were estimated as preference measures that the patients assigned to their overall health status. Results: This study was based on 252 patients with TRD. The mean utility value by health state was 0.41, 0.63, 0.80, and 0.90, for MDE, response, remission, and recovery, respectively. At baseline, 59% of patients had an MADRS score of at least 28. Their baseline average utility value was lower compared to the other patients (0.43 versus 0.58, p < 0.001). This significant difference persisted at the following visits. The rate of patients in MDEs having at least one hospitalisation for depression or other reasons than depression was generally higher than that in the other health states. Conclusion: This study documented patterns in healthcare resource consumption, quality of life, and other characteristics in patients with TRD, both globally and by health state and depression severity.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Community- and Choice-Based Health State Utility Values for Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

Using appropriate health state utility values (HSUVs) is critical for economic evaluation of new lung cancer interventions, such as low-dose computed tomography screening and immunotherapy. Therefore, we provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of community- and choice-based HSUVs for lung cancer.

METHODS

On 6 March 2017, we conducted a systematic search of the following databases: Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, Google Scholar, and the School of Health and Related Research Health Utility Database. The search was updated on 17 April 2019. Studies reporting mean or median lung cancer-specific HSUVs including a measure of variance were included and assessed for relevance and validity. Studies with high relevance (i.e. community- and choice-based) were further analysed. Mean HSUVs were pooled using random-effects models for all stages, stages I-II, and stages III-IV. For studies with a control group, we calculated the disutility due to lung cancer. A sensitivity analysis included only the methodologically most comparable studies (i.e. using the EQ-5D instrument and matching tariff). Subgroup analyses were conducted by time to death, histology, sex, age, treatment modality, treatment line, and progression status.

RESULTS

We identified and analysed 27 studies of high relevance. The pooled HSUV was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.61-0.75) for all stages, 0.78 (95% CI 0.70-0.86) for stages I-II, and 0.69 (95% CI 0.65-0.73) for stages III-IV (p = 0.02 vs. stage I-II). Heterogeneity was present in each pooled analysis (p < 0.01; I2 = 92-99%). Disutility due to lung cancer ranged from 0.11 (95% CI 0.05-0.17) to 0.27 (95% CI 0.18-0.36). In the sensitivity analysis with the methodologically most comparable studies, stage-specific HSUVs varied by country. Such studies were only identified for Canada, China, Spain, the UK, the USA, Denmark, Germany, and Thailand. In the subgroup analysis by time to death, HSUVs for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer ranged from 0.83 (95% CI 0.82-0.85) at ≥ 360 days from death to 0.56 (95% CI 0.46-0.66) at < 30 days from death. Among patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, HSUVs were lower for those receiving third- or fourth-line treatment and for those with progressed disease. Results of subgroup analyses by histology, sex, age, and treatment modality were ambiguous.

CONCLUSIONS

The presented evidence supports the use of stage- and country-specific HSUVs. However, such HSUVs are unavailable for most countries. Therefore, our pooled HSUVs may provide the best available stage-specific HSUVs for most countries. For metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, adjusting for the decreased HSUVs in the last year of life may be considered, as may further stratification of HSUVs by treatment line or progression status. If required, HSUVs for other health states may be identified using our comprehensive breakdown of study characteristics.

A comparison of psychometric properties of two common measures of caregiving burden: the family burden interview schedule (FBIS-24) and the Zarit caregiver burden interview (ZBI-22)

Purpose

The Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS-24) and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI-22) are among the most widely used measures for assessing caregiving burden, but their psychometric performances have not been compared in the same study of caregivers of people living with schizophrenia (PLS). This is important because the measures assess overlapping constructs- the FBIS-24 assesses objective burden (e.g., completion of manual tasks) and the ZBI-22 assesses subjective burden (e.g., perceived distress, stigma). This study seeks to fill this gap by comparing the reliability and validity of the FBIS-24 and the ZBI-22 in a Chinese community sample of caregivers of PLS.

Methods

A Cross-sectional stud was conducted in a community-based mental health service program in Central South part of China. A total of 327 primary family caregivers of PLS completed face-to-face interviews of the FBIS-24, the ZBI-22, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Family Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection and Resolve Index scale (APGAR), and PLS were assessed using the Global Assessment of Function scale (GAF).

Results

Our findings show that both the FBIS-24 and ZBI-22 have comparable psychometric performance in terms of the internal consistency, convergent validity and known group’s validity.

Conclusion

Both the FBIS-24 and the ZBI-22 are psychometrically sound measures of caregiving burden but the choice of which measure to use will depend on the research question.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1-axis in non-small cell lung cancer: promise, controversies and ambiguities in the novel treatment paradigm

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have received much attention not least for melanoma since the award of the Nobel prize in 2018. Here, we review the current state of knowledge about the use of these monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These drugs have generally been conditionally approved on limited early data and there are few long-term follow-up data from randomized clinical trials. The effect observed for NSCLC thus far is, on average, moderately better than that obtained with chemotherapy. Severe side-effects are more common than might have been expected. The drugs themselves are expensive and are associated with time-consuming histopathologic testing even though the predictive value of these tests can be discussed. In addition, monitoring for side-effects involves increased workload and budgetary expense for clinical chemistry laboratories. Here, we review and summarize the current knowledge, controversies and ambiguities of ICIs for the treatment of NSCLC.

Dimensionality and Measurement Invariance of the Italian Version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in Postoperative Lung Cancer Patients

Background

This study aims to validate and evaluate the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Italian version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30), which is a measure of quality of life (QoL) for lung cancer patients after surgery.

Methods

A total of 167 lung cancer patients completed the Italian version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire at 30 days after they received a lobectomy. The factor structure of this scale was assessed by performing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Measurement invariance was evaluated by considering differential item functioning (DIF) due to age, gender, and type of surgery (i.e., robot- or not robot-assisted).

Results

The CFA demonstrated the validity of the factor structure of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in assessing overall health and eight distinct subscales of adverse events and functioning. Moreover, the results highlighted a minimal DIF with only trivial consequences on measurement invariance. Specifically, the DIF did not affect the mean differences of latent scores of QoL between patients undergoing robot-assisted surgery or traditional surgery.

Conclusion

These findings supported the validity and suitability of the EORTC QLQ-C30 for the assessment of QoL in lung cancer patients of diverse ages and genders undergoing lobectomy with or without robot-assisted surgery.