The Impact of the Timing of Health-Related Quality of Life Assessments on the Actual Results in Glioma Patients: A Randomized Prospective Study

Health-Related Quality of Life and Treatment Satisfaction of Patients with Malignant IDH Wild-Type Gliomas and Their Caregivers

(1) Background: Clinical aspects like sex, age, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) and psychosocial distress can affect the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and treatment satisfaction of patients with malignant isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type (IDHwt) gliomas and caregivers. (2) Methods: We prospectively investigated the HR-QoL and patient/caregiver treatment satisfaction in a cross-sectional study with univariable and multiple regression analyses. Questionnaires were applied to investigate the HR-QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-BN20) and treatment satisfaction (EORTC PATSAT-C33). (3) Results: A cohort of 61 patients was investigated. A higher KPS was significantly associated with a better HR-QoL regarding the functional scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (p < 0.004) and a lower symptom burden regarding the EORTC QLQ-BN20 (p < 0.001). The patient treatment satisfaction was significantly poorer in the patients older than 60 years in the domain of family involvement (p = 0.010). None of the investigated aspects showed a significant impact on the treatment satisfaction of caregivers. (4) Conclusions: We demonstrated that in patients with IDHwt gliomas, the KPS was the most important predictor for a better HR-QoL in functional domains. Data on the HR-QoL and treatment satisfaction in patients with IDHwt gliomas and their caregivers are rare; therefore, further efforts should be made to improve supportive care in this highly distressed cohort.

Tissue factor-dependent coagulation activation in intracranial neoplasms: a comparative study

The aim of the study was to investigate the concentration and activity of tissue factor (TF) and Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) as well as the concentration of thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes in patients with primary and metastatic intracranial neoplasms. The study included 69 patients with an average age of 62 years. Twenty-one patients were diagnosed with gliomas, 18 meningioma stage II (M) patients, and 30 metastatic brain tumour cases (Meta). The control group consisted of 30 individuals with a mean age of 57 years. In the plasma of all the participants and in tumour tissue-derived homogenate, the concentrations and activities of TF, TFPI, the concentration of TAT complexes and the concentration of total protein were measured. The results were converted per 1 mg of protein. The concentration of TF was over 80 times higher in the tumour tissue-derived homogenate in respect to patients' plasma levels. Plasma TF activity in intracranial cancer patients was almost six times higher compared with noncancer counterparts, while in the tumour tissue-derived homogenate it was more than 14 times higher than in the intracranial cancer patients' plasma, whereas the concentration of TFPI in the tumour tissue-derived homogenate was significantly lower than in the patients' plasma. However, a significantly higher TFPI activity in the tumour tissue derived than in the patients' plasma was reported. The high concentration and activity of TF, along with the coexisting low concentration and activity of TFPI in the plasma of intracranial tumour patients, is associated with a higher prothrombotic risk in these patients.

Is the EORTC QLQ-C30 emotional functioning scale appropriate as an initial screening measure to identify brain tumour patients who may possibly have a mood disorder?

Background

Screening glioma patients regularly for possible mood disorders may facilitate early identification and referral of patients at risk. This study evaluated if the EORTC QLQ‐C30 Emotional Functioning (EF) scale could be used as an initial screening measure to identify patients possibly having a mood disorder.

Methods

EORTC QLQ‐C30 EF and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores were collected as part of a study assessing the impact of timing of patient‐reported outcome assessments on actual health‐related quality of life outcomes (N = 99). Spearman correlations and Mann‐Whitney U tests were used to determine the association between the EF and HADS (sub)scales. Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses were performed to determine optimal cut‐off EF scores to identify patients possibly having a mood disorder (i.e. HADS subscale score ≥8 points).

Results

EF and HADS (sub)scales correlated moderately (HADS‐A: r = −0.65; HADS‐D: r = −0.52). Significant EF score differences were found between patients with HADS ≥8 versus <8 points (HADS‐A: mean difference (MD) = 32 and HADS‐D: MD = 23). The EF scale had excellent (HADS‐A; AUC = 0.88) and borderline excellent (HADS‐D; AUC = 0.78) distinguishing capabilities. A statistically optimal (EF score <80) and a most inclusive (sensitivity of 100%, corresponding to an EF score <97) EF cut‐off score correctly identified 88.0% and 96.0% of patients with a possible mood disorder, respectively.

Conclusion

EORTC QLQ‐C30 EF scale seems to be an appropriate screening measure to identify glioma patients possibly having a mood disorder in need of further assessment.