Quality of life in lung cancer survivors treated with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI) : results from the multi-centre cross-sectional German study LARIS

Abstract

Purpose We aimed at exploring the quality of life (QOL) of lung cancer survivors with proven tyrosine-kinase receptor (RTK) genetic alterations and targeted tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI) therapy, compared to lung cancer survivors with no-RTK alterations and no-TKI therapy. Methods Data were collected in a cross-sectional multi-centre study. Primary lung cancer survivors were asked about their socio-demographic and clinical information, QOL, symptom burden, and distress. QOL and symptom burden were assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), and distress with the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). Demographic and clinical characteristics were reported in absolute and relative frequencies, QOL, and symptom burden using mean scores. Diferences in mean scores with relative 95% confdence intervals were used for comparison. Results Three groups of survivors were defned: group A with proven RTK alterations, TKI therapy at any time during therapy, and stage IV lung cancer at diagnosis (n=49); group B: non-TKI therapy and stage IV lung cancer (n=121); group C: non-TKI therapy and stage I–III lung cancer (n=495). Survivors in group A reported lower QOL (mean score diference=-11.7 vs. group B) and symptom burden for dyspnoea (diference=-11.5 vs. group C), and higher symptom burden for appetite loss (diference= +11.4 vs. group C), diarrhoea and rash (diferences= +25.6,+19.6 and+13.2,+13.0, respectively, vs. both groups). Conclusions Our results suggest that the specifc side efects of TKI therapy can impair QOL among lung cancer survivors. Therefore, specifc focus towards the optimal management of these side efects should be considered.