Quality of life and late toxicities in germ-cell cancer patients after high-dose chemotherapy.

Abstract

4600 Background: The number of long term survivors after treatment for relapsed/refractory germ cell cancer (GCC) is increasing but little is known about quality of life (QOL) and late toxicities (LT). Methods: We assessed LT and QOL in GCC patients (pts), treated in a prospective, randomized, multicenter, phase III trial comparing single versus sequential high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) (Lorch 2007). All 216 pts were asked to complete the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) prior to HDCT, 6 weeks after and yearly thereafter. Results were analyzed according to standard methods (Fayers 2001). In addition pts were contacted at a median of 76 months (range 45-109) after HDCT to obtain information about current social and professional activities as well as LT. Results: Among 216 pts, 92/216 (42%) were alive and without evidence of disease one year after randomization. Median age of pts was 34 years (range 15-56). A median of 4 conventional-dose cisplatin-based treatment cycles had been given prior to HDCT. Questionnaires and response to the survey were evaluable in 86/92 (93%) pts overall and in 59/86 (69%) pts more than 3 years after HDCT. Values for global health status, role functioning and emotional functioning declined during the first year after HDCT, increased in the following years, but did not reach the reference values from large samples of the general population in Norway (Hjermstad 1998). Pts after sequential HDCT scored better in a number of items (e.g. emotional-, cognitive-, social-functioning, fatigue and dyspnoea) in comparison to single HDCT including high-dose cyclophosphamide. Persisting polyneuropathy was reported in 59%, ototoxicity or tinnitus in 56%, erectile dysfunction in 24%, hypertension in 23%, hypercholesterinemia in 17%, diabetes mellitus in 6%, nephrotoxicity in 6%, myocardial infraction in 2% and second cancers in 1% of pts. Overall 82 % of pts were employed, 30% exercised regularly. Conclusions: HDCT has a negative impact on QOL, including social and professional life. Most common late toxicities were ototoxicity and polyneuropathy. Sequential HDCT without cyclophosphamide seems to result in a better outcome in respect to QOL.