Lattimore CM, Meneveau MO, Petroni GR, Varhegyi NE, Squeo GC, Showalter TN, Showalter SL. Effects of a novel form of intraoperative radiation therapy on quality of life among patients with early-stage breast cancer.
Brachytherapy 2022;
21:325-333. [PMID:
35120862 PMCID:
PMC9149037 DOI:
10.1016/j.brachy.2021.12.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
To investigate patient-perceived quality of life (QOL) among patients treated with a novel form of breast intraoperative radiation therapy (PB-IORT).
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Patients treated with PB-IORT as part of a phase II clinical trial from 2013 to 2020 were identified. Patients were given the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core 30-item Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) encompassing global health, functionality, and symptomatology at baseline, 1-month, 6-months, 12-months, and 24-months after PB-IORT. Scores were on a 100-point scale with change greater than 10 considered clinically significant. Scores at interval follow-up were compared to baseline using repeated measure modeling with an unstructured covariance matrix.
RESULTS
The cohort consisted of 303 patients, a majority of which were White (84.2%) with a median age of 64 years (IQR: 52, 76). One month after PB-IORT, a decline from baseline in physical (-2.5, 95% CI: -4.4 - -0.55, p = 0.01), role (-7.6, 95% CI: -11.7 - -3.5, p < 0.001), and social functioning (-3.0, 95% CI: -5.5 - -0.42, p = 0.02) were observed, which correlated with increased fatigue (8.4, 95% CI: 5.5-11.3, p < 0.001). At 6 months, nearly all QOL measures returned to baseline or improved. There were no statistically or clinically significant differences from baseline in overall global health. All functional and symptom scale differences were less than 10, indicating minimal clinical significance.
CONCLUSIONS
PB-IORT has minimal negative impact on QOL, further supporting this patient-centered treatment approach for early-stage breast cancer.
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