Abstract P6-08-04: Prognostic significance of quality-of-life scores in early stage and relapsed breast cancer: Results from seven randomized trials of the International breast cancer study group
Authors: Lee CK , Coates AS , Hudson M , Ribi K , Bernhard J 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
We performed an individual patient meta-analysis to investigate the prognostic value of patient self-reported quality-of-life (QL) scores at baseline, and at several times prior to and following disease relapse on subsequent overall survival (OS) in seven randomized trials of the International Breast Cancer Study Group.
Patients with early stage breast cancer who participated in randomized trials that compared adjuvant therapies, and who had subsequent disease relapse, completed QL assessments for physical well-being, mood, appetite, nausea and vomiting, arm swelling, flushing, coping effort, and utility at study entry, prior to and after disease relapse. We tested the relationships between baseline QL scores and OS using Cox regression analyses. We performed landmark analyses to assess the relationships between pre-relapse QL scores with OS using QL assessments at 1, 2 and 3 months prior to disease relapse, at the time of relapse and at two subsequent QL assessments where these were available. All Cox models were stratified by trial and included other factors related to QL and/or outcome.
Among 8,024 patients, 3,834 (48%) had disease relapse after a median follow-up time of 12 years. Amongst these patients, QL score at baseline, and at 1, 2, and 3 months prior disease relapse were not significantly prognostic for OS. At disease relapse, scores for physical well-being (hazards ratio [HR] per 10 unit increase of QL score for death, 1.05; P = 0.003), mood (HR 1.05; P = 0.007), appetite (HR 1.08; P&lt;0.001), and utility (HR 1.13; P = 0.008) were prognostic for subsequent OS. Nausea and vomiting (HR 1.05; P = 0.11), arm swelling (HR 1.00; P = 0.20), flushing (HR 1.01; P = 0.73), and coping effort (HR 1.02; P = 0.29) were not prognostic for subsequent OS. At post-relapse assessments at median times of 1 (HR 1.07; P&lt;0.001), 6 (HR 1.08; P&lt;0.001) and 10 months (HR 1.13; P&lt;0.001) after disease relapse, scores for physical well-being showed increasing prognostic significance. Scores for mood, nausea and vomiting, appetite, coping effort and utility showed patterns similar to those for physical wellbeing, but scores for arm swelling and flushing were not prognostic for subsequent OS.
These findings confirm and extend those of Coates et al. (J Clin Oncol 2000;18:3768 - 3774) based on two of the trials included in the present analysis. At baseline and prior to relapse, QL scores did not have any prognostic significance for subsequent OS. At and after disease relapse, QL scores substantially predicted for subsequent OS, with stronger association for QL scores later in the course of relapsed disease. Patient perception of the severity of underlying illness after relapse might be a potential reason that determines the reported QL scores and thus contributes to their prognostic significance.
Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P6-08-04.