A prospective study examining PROs and other geriatric outcomes in older adults with prostate cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Abstract

9555 Background: Treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with chemotherapy improves disease control and survival in older men (age 65+) based on large clinical trials. Its effects, though, on more frail elderly men are not well understood and chemotherapy may negatively impact frailty, daily function, physical performance, and quality of life (QOL), particularly outside the clinical trial setting. Methods: Men aged 65+ with mCRPC starting first-line chemotherapy were enrolled in this prospective observational pilot study. Physical function was assessed with the timed up and go (TUG) test, timed chair stands, and grip strength. Frailty was evaluated using the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) questionnaire in addition to functional status (OARS-IADL), social activities limitations and social support (MOS measures). Patients completed the FACT-P and FACT-G to measure prostate-specific QOL and general QOL, respectively. Assessments were completed before each cycle of chemotherapy. Pre-post within-group comparisons were done using student’s T-tests and linear regression. Results: 25 patients (mean age 75) receiving Docetaxel + Prednisone were enrolled, 3 of whom died and 2 dropped out. Both general and prostate-specific QOL improved over a median of 6 cycles. Patients’ instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scores remained stable. On average, grip strength was stable and lower extremity function improved on both the TUG and Timed Chair Stands. At baseline, 13 of 25 patients (52%) were frail (VES score 3+). Of the patients that completed chemotherapy, 40% were frail. Conclusions: Contrary to our hypotheses, QOL did not decline in this frail elderly cohort, IADL function remained stable, and physical function remained stable or improved during first-line chemotherapy. Frailty also did not increase at the end of treatment as hypothesized. Older men with mCRPC appear to tolerate first-line chemotherapy fairly well in terms of QOL and geriatric domains.