There is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal method of assessing health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). This study explored the perceived relevance of items that make up the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index-19 (FKSI-19), as judged by patients with mRCC.
This was a multinational cross-sectional survey. Eligible patients responded to a questionnaire composed of 18 items that assessed the perceived relevance of each item in the FKSI-19 questionnaire. Open-ended questions assessed additional issues deemed relevant by patients. Responses were grouped as relevant (scores 2-5) or nonrelevant (score 1). Descriptive statistics were collated, and open-ended questions were analyzed and categorized into descriptive categories. Spearman correlation statistics were used to test the association between relevance and clinical characteristics.
A total of 151 patients were included (gender: 78.1 M, 21.9F; median age: 64; treatment: 38.4 immunotherapy, 29.8 targeted therapy, 13.9 immuno-TKI combination therapy) in the study. The most relevant questions evaluated fatigue (77.5), lack of energy (72.2), and worry that their condition will get worse (71.5). Most patients rated blood in urine (15.2), fevers (16.6), and lack of appetite (23.2) as least relevant. Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions revealed several themes, including emotional and physical symptoms, ability to live independently, effectiveness of treatment, family, spirituality, and financial toxicity.
There is a need to refine widely used HR-QOL measures that are employed among patients diagnosed with mRCC treated with contemporary therapies. Guidance was provided for the inclusion of more relevant items to patients' cancer journey.
The oncologist. 2023 Mar 14 [Epub ahead of print]
Cristiane Decat Bergerot, Jasnoor Malhotra, Paulo Bergerot, Errol J Philip, Daniela V Castro, JoAnn Hsu, Augusto Cesar de Andrade Mota, Andressa Cardoso de Azeredo, João Nunes de Matos Neto, Thomas Hutson, Viktor Grünwald, Axel Bex, Sarah P Psutka, Brian Rini, Elizabeth R Plimack, Viraj Master, Laurence Albiges, Toni K Choueiri, Sumanta Pal, Thomas Powles
Centro de Câncer de Brasília, Instituto Unity de Ensino e Pesquisa, Brasília, DF, Brazil., Department of Medical Oncology & Experimental Therapeutics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA., School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA., Medical Oncology, Clinica AMO, Salvador, BA, Brazil., Medical Oncology, Instituto de Oncologia Kaplan, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil., Urologic Oncology Program, Texas Oncology at Baylor Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas, TX, USA., Clinic for Medical Oncology, Clinic for Urology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Alemanha, Germany., UCL Division of Surgical and Interventional Science, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands., Urology Clinic, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA., Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA., Department of Hematology/Oncology and Chief, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA., Department of Urology, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA, USA., Department of Cancer Medicine, Gustave Roussy Institute, Paris, France., Lank Center for Genitourinary (GU) Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA., Barts Cancer Centre, Barts Cancer Centre at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.