Effects of Definitive Chemoradiotherapy on Respiratory Function Tests and Quality of Life Scores During Treatment of Lung Cancer.

Evrim Duman,Zeynep Akarsu,Mustafa Yildiz,Aysun Inal,Seyda Gunduz,Mustafa Yildirim,Duriye Ozturk,Vildan Kaya

doi:10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.15.6779

Abstract

Chemoradiotherapy is an important treatment modality for lung cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in, as well as the interrelationship between, lung function and quality of life of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy due to locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) limited to the thorax. The study included patients receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy for lung carcinoma. The respiratory function of the patients was assessed by measuring forced expiratory volume in 1 s per unit (FEV1) and forced expiratory volume in 1s per unit of vital capacity (FEV1/VC) before, in the middle of and after treatment. During the study, EORTC QLQ C30 and LC13 questionnaires developed by the Committee of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) were employed to evaluate the quality of life on the same day as respiratory function tests (RFT). The study included 23 patients in total: 19 (82.6%) diagnosed with NSCLC and 4 (17.4%) with SCLC. The average percentage FEV1 was 55.6±21.8% in the pre-treatment period, 56.2±19.2% in the middle of treatment and 60.4±22% at the end of treatment. The improvement in functional scores, symptom scores and general health scores during treatment was not statistically significant (P=0.568, P=0.734, P=0.680, P=0.757 respectively). Although this study showed an improvement in respiratory function and quality of life of patients during treatment with thoracic chemoradiotherapy, no statistically significant results were obtained. While evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for lung carcinoma, the effects of treatment on respiratory function and quality of life should be considered.

Highlights

As the most frequent, common and important cause of cancer-related deaths, lung carcinoma results in more than one million deaths annually
Conclusions: this study showed an improvement in respiratory function and quality of life of patients during treatment with thoracic chemoradiotherapy, no statistically significant results were obtained
All patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were at the limited stage, while 13 (56.5%) patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) were at stage 3A and five were at stage 3B

Summary

Introduction

Common and important cause of cancer-related deaths, lung carcinoma results in more than one million deaths annually. Small cell lung carcinoma accounts for 13%, and non-small cell lung carcinoma accounts for 86% of lung cancers (Dong et al, 2009; Goldstraw, 2012). Sixty percent of these patients receive radiotherapy (Tyldesley et al, 2001). The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in, as well as the interrelationship between, lung function and quality of life of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy due to locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) limited to the thorax. Conclusions: this study showed an improvement in respiratory function and quality of life of patients during treatment with thoracic chemoradiotherapy, no statistically significant results were obtained. While evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for lung carcinoma, the effects of treatment on respiratory function and quality of life should be considered

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Conclusion