Longitudinal Impact of Adjuvant Chemotherapy on Functional Status, Comorbidity and Quality of Life

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this study is to increase our understanding of the adjuvant chemotherapy experience in older and younger adults by prospectively describing the longitudinal trajectory of functional status, comorbidity, and quality of life from before the initiation of chemotherapy to 6 months after the completion of treatment in older (65 and older) and younger (under 65) adults. In addition, we will determine the effect of pre-treatment physical functioning on physical recovery after the course of adjuvant chemotherapy. The secondary objective of this study is to explore if factors other than chronological age (functional status, co-morbid medical conditions, nutritional status, psychological state, cognitive function, and social support) predicts which patients are more likely to experience morbidity (defined as grade 3-5 toxicity, hospitalization, dose reduction or delay, or premature discontinuation of chemotherapy course) from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Detailed Description
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60% of all cancers and 70% of cancer mortality occur in people greater than 65 years of age, defining cancer as a disease of older adults. Breast cancer is no exception to this rule where almost half of all new breast cancers in the United States are diagnosed in women 65 years of age or older1. Despite the association between cancer and aging, treatment recommendations and data acquired from prospective clinical trials in older women with breast cancer are sparse. As a result, physicians and older adults have limited data to guide treatment recommendation, make dose adjustments and manage toxicities in older adults. Aging is invariably associated with changes in physiology which can impact the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cancer therapy. The potential for increased toxic effects in the older patient becomes an important concern. Therefore, it may not be reasonable to extrapolate data regarding toxicity from clinical trials, which primarily include younger, healthier patients. In addition, the age-related impact of adjuvant therapy on the functional status and quality of life of older versus younger adults has not been rigorously evaluated, and risk factors for toxicity, other than chronological age, need to be studied among older adults receiving anthracycline and non-anthracycline based chemotherapy regimens. The goal of this study is to prospectively describe the longitudinal trajectory of functional status, comorbidity, and quality of life from before the initiation of chemotherapy to 6 months after the completion of treatment in older (65 and older) and younger (under 65) adults. We will determine the effect of pre-treatment physical functioning on physical recovery (ie, physical function at end of chemotherapy and 6 months later) after the course of adjuvant chemotherapy. In addition, we will explore if factors other than chronological age (functional status, comorbid medical conditions, nutritional status, psychological state, cognitive function, and social support) predict which patients are more likely to experience treatment morbidity (defined as grade 3-5 toxicity, hospitalization or urgent care visits, dose reduction or delay, or premature discontinuation of the planned chemotherapy course)

Official Title
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Adjuvant Therapy in Older Versus Younger Women With Breast Cancer: Longitudinal Impact of Adjuvant Chemotherapy on Functional Status, Comorbidity and Quality of Life

Conditions
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Breast Cancer

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients with stages I-III breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy Able to understand English Able to provide informed consent Patients of any age and performance status are eligible

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Under 65 years<br>Breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Those under 65 years of age will be prospectively evaluated for outcome. | |
| Over 65 years<br>Breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Those over 65 years of age will be prospectively evaluated for outcome. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Describe longitudinal trajectory of physical functional status and quality of life and determine if the patient assessment measure predicts morbidity in adult breast cancer patients from prior to adjuvant chemotherapy to 6 months after end of treatment. |  | 2 years | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Assess potential biomarkers for physiologic age, including Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs) and markers for oxidative stress and inflammation (e.g. 8-OHdG). |  | 2 years | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Breast Cancer, Adjuvant Chemotherapy