European Organization For Research And Treatment Of Cancer Quality Of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 Research Articles

Assessment of Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients before and after Radiation Therapy- A Prospective, Analytical Questionnaire-Based Study from a Tertiary Cancer Centre

Head-and-neck cancer (HNC) is a major global health issue, with significantly higher incidence rates in India compared to other countries. The diagnosis and treatment of HNC can severely affect a patient’s quality of life (QoL). This study aims to evaluate and compare the QoL of head and neck cancer patients before and after radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy. We conducted a prospective study on 45 newly diagnosed HNC patients who underwent radiation therapy, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy at our department. We assessed QoL using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) for general assessment and the EORTC QLQ H&N-35 for head and neck-specific evaluation before starting of the treatment and 4 weeks after the completion of the treatment. We used paired t-tests, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA for statistical analysis, with a significance level set at p ≤ 0.05. The most commonly affected site was the oral cavity. All participants initially had a good performance status (PS) of either 1 or 2, with Stage IV being the most prevalent. Analysis of the EORTC QLQ-C30 revealed a decline in global health status, and the EORTC QLQ H&N-35 showed deterioration across all domains from pretreatment. On the functional scale, emotional well-being was notably more impaired, while physical, cognitive, and social functions were less affected. Pain, swallowing difficulties, mucositis, and speech issues were identified as the most severely impacted aspects of QoL. In Conclusion, our study shows a significant decline in QoL following treatment due to the acute and subacute side effects of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive supportive care to address the broad impact of HNC treatment on patients quality of life.

Establishment and evaluation of the impact of a supervisory group for chemotherapy safety management in an oncology department.

The nursing model of establishing a chemotherapy safety management supervisory group has guaranteed the safety and effectiveness of intravenous chemotherapy while reducing the adverse effects of chemotherapy and improving patient satisfaction and quality of life. To explore the impact of establishing a nursing supervision group on improving the safety management of patients receiving chemotherapy in the oncology department. We selected a total of 60 patients who underwent chemotherapy at the oncology department between January and June 2021 and assigned them to the control group. They received conventional chemotherapy safety management nursing care. We selected another 60 patients undergoing chemotherapy in the oncology department between July and December 2021 and assigned them to the observation group. They received a nursing intervention model facilitated by the chemotherapy safety supervision team. We compared the intervention effects in the two groups. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (P< 0.05); the incidence of post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (P< 0.05); and the self-rating depression scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores of patients in the observation group were reduced (P< 0.05) and significantly lower than in the control group (P< 0.05). We used the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-core 30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30) and found a statistically significant difference in the quality of life of patients before the nursing intervention and on the day of discharge (P< 0.05). The establishment of a chemotherapy safety management supervisory group was effective in reducing the incidence of post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting as well as the patient's psychological burden; it could also improve the quality of life of patients and their satisfaction with nursing care.

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) Among Patients with Triple-Class Exposed Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM) Treated with Linvoseltamab in Linker-MM1: Interim Assessment up to 36 Weeks of Treatment

Background Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have worsened HRQoL that deteriorates with progression or with increasing lines of therapy (Fonseca et al. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2023). Assessing HRQoL in patients with RRMM provides insights on the full benefit of treatment. LINKER-MM1 (NCT03761108) is an ongoing open-label, multicenter Phase 1/2 dose-escalation and dose-expansion trial evaluating linvoseltamab, a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)×CD3 bispecific antibody that targets CD3 on T-cells and BCMA on myeloma cells resulting in T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Results have demonstrated promising efficacy and generally manageable safety for linvoseltamab in patients with RRMM (Lee et al. ASCO. 2023). Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) from the Phase 1 portion have shown improvements in quality of life (QoL) and pain symptoms. We report PRO for the combined Phase 1/2 cohort receiving the linvoseltamab 5-25-200 mg dosing regimen. Methods Patients in LINKER-MM1 (June 7, 2023 data cut-off with a July 20, 2023 data extraction) who were enrolled to receive the 5-25-200 mg dosing regimen during Phase 1 (n=12) and Phase 2 (n=105) were included in the analysis. Patients were ≥18 years of age with RRMM after triple-class exposure to a proteasome inhibitor, immunomodulatory drug, and an anti-CD38 antibody. Linvoseltamab was administered at Week 1 (5 mg), Week 2 (25 mg), and Week 3 (200 mg), followed by weekly dosing through Week 14 (Phase 2) or Week 16 (Phase 1), then every 2 weeks thereafter until progression. Patients in Phase 2 who achieved a very good partial response by Week 24 could transition to every 4 week dosing from Week 24. The PRO instruments included the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30), EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Multiple Myeloma module (QLQ-MY20), and European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) administered at baseline, Week 4, and every 4 weeks thereafter. Six scales across the three instruments were pre-specified in the clinical statistical analysis plan. We present analyses of the first 36 weeks of treatment. Least squares (LS) mean change from baseline to each assessment visit in PRO scores was estimated using a mixed effects model for repeated measures. Clinically meaningful improvements for EORTC QLQ-C30 were defined based on the minimally important difference (MID) of ≥10 points, with higher scores indicating better global health status (GHS)/QoL and physical functioning (PF). For EORTC QLQ-C30 fatigue (MID ≥10 points) and EORTC QLQ-MY20 Disease Symptoms (MID ≥16 points) and Side Effects of Treatment symptom scales (MID ≥6 points), lower scores indicate a lower symptom burden. For EQ-5D-3L visual analog scale (VAS), changes ≥12 points were considered clinically meaningful, with higher scores indicating better health status. LS mean change from baseline was considered statistically significant if the 95% confidence interval (CI) did not cross 0. No adjustment for multiplicity was performed, hence all statistical significance is nominal. Results PRO completion rates were high with ≥85% for the majority of time points among expected visits. Estimated mean changes from baseline by time point were statistically significant for GHS/QoL from Week 12 up to Week 36, with a LS mean change of 9.97 (95% CI 5.51, 14.43) at Week 36 (Figure 1A). Statistically significant improvements were observed for fatigue at Week 16 up to Week 36 with a LS mean change of −9.66 (95% CI −13.35, −5.98) at Week 36. Notably, both statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements were observed for pain at Week 20 (−18.43; 95% CI −23.54, −13.32) through Week 36 (−12.28; 95% CI −18.15, −6.42) (Figure 1B). Statistically significant improvements were observed in PF at Week 20 up to Week 36 (Figure 1A) and most assessment time points for the EORTC QLQ-MY20 Disease Symptoms and Side Effects of Treatment scales during the 36-week period, although these changes did not reach the MID thresholds for clinically meaningful improvement. Scores on the EQ-5D-3L VAS were maintained from baseline throughout the 36-week period. Conclusions During 36 weeks of treatment, improvements in measures of HRQoL, including pain, were reported among patients with RRMM receiving linvoseltamab. These PRO findings support a favorable benefit-risk profile of linvoseltamab consistent with clinical results.

Effects of Idecabtagene Vicleucel (Ide-Cel) Versus Standard Regimens on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Patients with Triple-Class-Exposed (TCE) Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM) Who Received at Least 3 Lines of Prior Antimyeloma Regimens in the KarMMa-3 Phase 3 Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Patients with TCE RRMM have a high disease burden and often report worsening HRQoL with additional lines of therapy. The single-arm, phase 2 KarMMa study demonstrated that ide-cel, a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, improved HRQoL from baseline in patients with TCE RRMM who had received ≥ 3 prior regimens (Delforge M, et al. Blood Adv 2022;6:1309-1318). Furthermore, in the phase 3 KarMMa-3 clinical trial (NCT03651128), ide-cel significantly improved progression-free survival and response compared with standard regimens in patients with TCE RRMM who had received 2-4 prior regimens (Rodriguez-Otero P, et al. N Engl J Med 2023;388:1002-1014). Here we assessed the comparative effects of ide-cel versus standard regimens on HRQoL in patients with TCE RRMM who had received 3-4 prior regimens including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and daratumumab (an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody) using data from the KarMMa-3 study. Methods: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30), EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Multiple Myeloma Module (QLQ-MY20), and EQ-5D-5L. The pre-specified primary domains of interest included EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status/QoL, physical functioning, cognitive functioning, fatigue, and pain; EORTC QLQ-MY20 disease symptoms and side effects of treatment; and the EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale (EQ-5D VAS). PROs were collected at screening (baseline), the day of ide-cel infusion (ide-cel) or first treatment dose (standard regimens), monthly from 2 to 28 months, and thereafter every 3 months. Comparisons were performed on least squares (LS) mean changes from baseline through 28 months between arms using constrained longitudinal data analysis (cLDA). Effect size was estimated by Hedges' g. The comparative effects of ide-cel versus standard regimens on time to confirmed improvement and time to confirmed deterioration (defined by prespecified change thresholds) were assessed via stratified Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. All P values are nominal and not adjusted for multiple testing. Statistical significance was set at P &amp;lt; 0.05. Results: Baseline characteristics were well balanced among the patients in the ide-cel arm (n = 167) and the standard regimen arm (n = 93), with a median age of 63 years and a median time of 4.7 years from RRMM diagnosis to study screening. Completion rates of HRQoL assessments were high over time for most visits (&amp;gt; 75%). At baseline, mean HRQoL domain scores were similar between arms. Overall LS mean changes from baseline to 28 months showed significant differences in favor of ide-cel versus standard regimens (nominal P &amp;lt; 0.05) for 11 domains (effect sizes of 0.26-0.82), and 7 (4 primary: global health status/QoL, cognitive functioning, pain, EQ-5D VAS; 3 secondary: dyspnea, insomnia, constipation) of them exceeded the prespecified MID thresholds (Table). Time to confirmed improvement was significantly shorter (nominal P &amp;lt; 0.05) in the ide-cel arm than in the standard regimen arm for 10 domains, including all primary domains except pain. Time to confirmed deterioration was longer in the ide-cel arm than the standard regimen arm for most domains, with significant differences in emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, and dyspnea (EORTC QLQ-C30). Finally, side effects of treatment favored the ide-cel versus standard regimen arm (EORTC QLQ-MY20) (Table). Conclusions: These patient-reported findings demonstrate that compared with standard regimens, treatment with ide-cel improved MM-relevant disease symptoms, functioning, and overall health status/HRQoL of patients with TCE RRMM in the KarMMa-3 trial. These data further substantiate the superior treatment outcomes of ide-cel over standard regimens in this patient population. Overall, treatment with ide-cel may help alleviate detriments to HRQoL in these patients with complex disease.

Effects of Idecabtagene Vicleucel (Ide-Cel) Versus Standard Regimens on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM) Who Had Received 2-4 Prior Regimens: Updated Results from the Phase 3 KarMMa-3 Trial

Background: An interim analysis (data cutoff date April 18, 2022) of the international, open-label, phase 3 KarMMa-3 trial (NCT03651128) showed the chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) significantly improved progression-free survival and treatment response rates, as well as HRQoL, as compared with standard regimens, in patients with triple-class exposed (TCE) RRMM who had received 2-4 prior regimens (Rodriguez-Otero P, et al. N Engl J Med 2023;388:1002-1014; Delforge M, et al., HemaSphere, 2023;7(S3):P905). The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of ide-cel versus standard regimens (daratumumab [DARA], pomalidomide, and dexamethasone [DEX]; DARA, bortezomib, and DEX; ixazomib, lenalidomide, and DEX; carfilzomib and DEX; or elotuzumab, pomalidomide, and DEX) on HRQoL in KarMMa-3 trial participants with an extended follow-up of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) data collection (data cutoff date April 28, 2023). Methods: In KarMMa-3, HRQoL was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30), EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Multiple Myeloma Module (QLQ-MY20), and EQ-5D-5L. HRQoL assessments were completed at screening (baseline); the day of ide-cel infusion or the first dose of standard treatment; and monthly from 2 to 28 months; and every 3 months thereafter. The prespecified primary outcomes of interest were EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status/QoL, physical functioning, cognitive functioning, fatigue, and pain; EORTC QLQ-MY20 disease symptoms and side effects of treatment; and the EQ-5D visual analog scale (EQ-VAS). Least squares (LS) mean changes from baseline through month 25 for ide-cel and standard regimens were compared by constrained longitudinal data analysis (cLDA). Effect sizes were estimated by Hedges' g. The effect of ide-cel versus standard regimens on time to confirmed improvement and deterioration in HRQoL (defined by prespecified change thresholds and sustained duration) were compared by stratified Cox proportional hazards regression. There was no adjustment for multiple testing, and all P values reported are nominal. Results: Overall, 254 patients were randomized to the ide-cel arm and 132 to the standard regimens arm. Baseline characteristics were well balanced across treatment arms; both arms had a median age of 63 years, a median of 3 prior anti-myeloma regimens, and median time from MM diagnosis to screening was 4 years. The baseline HRQoL scores were generally comparable between treatment arms. Overall LS mean changes from baseline to month 25 showed significant differences (nominal P value &amp;lt; 0.05) in favor of ide-cel for 18 out of 21 HRQoL domains, with effect sizes (Hedges' g) of 0.27 to 0.82 (Table). For 13 of these domains (including 6 primary domains of interest), the difference in overall LS mean change from baseline exceeded the prespecified minimum important difference (MID) threshold. Time to confirmed improvement was significantly shorter in the ide-cel arm than the standard regimens arm for 19 domains, including all primary domains of interest (Table). Time to confirmed deterioration showed trends of being longer in the ide-cel arm than the standard regimens arm for most domains and was significantly longer for emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, social functioning, dyspnea, and constipation as measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30. The time to confirmed deterioration in side effects of treatment (based on the EORTC QLQ-MY20) was significantly longer for patients in the ide-cel arm and time to confirmed improvement was significantly faster, as compared with the standard regimens arm (Table). Conclusions: In the KarMMa-3 trial, patients with TCE RRMM who had received 2-4 prior regimens, ide-cel significantly and meaningfully improved MM-relevant symptoms, functioning, and overall health status/HRQoL compared with standard regimens. Confirmed HRQoL improvements in the ide-cel arm occurred sooner than standard regimens. PRO improvements were sustained over more than 2 years, which is notable after a single infusion treatment with ide-cel. These patient-reported findings further support the benefit of ide-cel in this patient population.

Patient-reported outcomes of furmonertinib versus gefitinib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic, EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (FURLONG): A multicenter, double-blind, randomized phase 3 study.

9081 Background: Furmonertinib showed superior efficacy compared with gefitinib as first-line therapy in Chinese patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), along with an acceptable safety profile without new signals in the FURLONG study. Here we present patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Methods: FURLONG is a multicenter, double-blind, double dummy, randomized phase 3 study done in 55 hospitals across mainland China. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either furmonertinib or gefitinib. The primary endpoint of IRC-assessed progression-free survival has been reported previously. PROs as prespecified secondary outcomes by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Lung Cancer 13 (QLQ-LC13), were analyzed in randomly assigned patients who had received at least one dose of study drug and completed at least one PRO assessment. Changes from baseline to randomized treatment discontinuation were analyzed with mixed model for repeated measures and time-to-event analyses. This study is ongoing for survival follow-up. Results: 357 patients received at least one dose of study drug, all of them completed at least one PRO assessment. Questionnaire completion rates were ≥95% at most time points. Baseline mean scores were similar in the furmonertinib and gefitinib groups. From baseline to randomized treatment discontinuation, statistically significant differences favoring furmonertinib for physical function, nausea/vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, alopecia, and other pain (any pain other than chest, arm, or shoulder pain) were observed. Time to deterioration in physical function, cognitive function, nausea/vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, cough, dyspnea, dysphagia, and alopecia were significantly longer with furmonertinib versus gefitinib (Table). Conclusions: Furmonertinib demonstrated favorable PROs as measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-L13 versus gefitinib. These data presented the positive benefit risk profile of first-line furmonertinib and further support this novel third generation EGFR-TKI as a new standard of first line treatment in EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC. Clinical trial information: NCT03787992 . [Table: see text]

Patient-reported outcomes following selpercatinib treatment in Chinese patients with advanced RET fusion-positive non-small-cell lung cancer and thyroid cancer, and RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer in the phase II LIBRETTO-321 trial.

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly becoming an important part of clinical trials as they are helpful in analyzing the safety and efficacy of treatment in chronic diseases like cancer. We report PROs and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with selpercatinib treatment among Chinese patients with rearranged in transfection (RET) fusion-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer (TC), and RET-mutant medullary TC (MTC) as an exploratory analysis of the LIBRETTO-321 trial. A total of 77 patients (47 RET fusion-positive NSCLC, 1 RET fusion-positive TC, and 29 RET-mutant MTC) were enrolled. Compliance for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) was 100% at baseline and >90% at each time point. PROs were assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30, and a bowel diary assessment for MTC patients with baseline diarrhea using the Systemic Therapy-Induced Diarrhea Assessment Tool. Data were collected at pre-dose; every 8 weeks from cycle 3; and every 12 weeks after cycle 13. A >10-point change from baseline was considered clinically meaningful. PRO changes were summarized through cycle 13. Most patients with NSCLC or MTC showed improvement or remained stable on the global health status and functional subscales. For global health status, 47.4% of NSCLC and MTC patients showed definite improvement with only 19.7% showing definite worsening. For functional subscales, less than 30% of the patients showed definite worsening. For symptom subscales, more than 64% of the patients either improved or remained stable for the symptoms. For MTC patients with bowel diary assessment (n = 5), there was no severity or worsening from baseline in the diarrheal episodes observed during treatment with selpercatinib. The study demonstrated favorable PROs in Chinese patients with RET fusion-positive NSCLC, TC, and RET-mutant MTC treated with selpercatinib. HRQoL was improved or stable as assessed by EORTC QLQ-30. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04280081) ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04280081.

Predictors of health-related quality of life after completion of chemotherapy among Malaysian early-stage breast cancer survivors.

Health-related quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome measure in breast cancer management. Evidence of QoL of breast cancer patients in lower and middle-income countries remains scarce. We examined the level of QoL, cognitive impairment, psychological distresses, and the predictors of QoL among multiethnic Malaysian early-stage breast cancer survivors 1 to 3years following chemotherapy. A total of 160 breast cancer survivors from the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) participated in this cross-sectional study. Their QoL was evaluated with the Malay version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) version 3.0. Cognitive functioning and psychological distress were evaluated using the Malay version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-BM) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. Data analysis was performed with Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analyses. At 1- to 3-year post-chemotherapy, the mean EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status of the breast cancer survivors was relatively low (60.5 over 100, SD = 10.88). One-third (31.9%) of them demonstrated cognitive impairment, and another 3.2% showed moderate to severe anxiety levels. The significant predictors for global health status and functioning included age, psychological distresses, cognitive performance, fatigue, appetite loss, insomnia, pain, and constipation. Our breast cancer survivors demonstrated poor global health status. Health care providers and policymakers must strive to provide holistic intervention strategies to improve the multiple dimensions of QoL and the cognitive and psychological functioning of this vulnerable population.

Establishing anchor-based minimally important differences for the EORTC QLQ-C30 in glioma patients.

BackgroundMinimally important differences (MIDs) allow interpretation of the clinical relevance of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) results. This study aimed to estimate MIDs for all European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) scales for interpreting group-level results in brain tumor patients.MethodsClinical and HRQOL data from three glioma trials were used. Clinical anchors were selected for each EORTC QLQ-C30 scale, based on correlation (>0.30) and clinical plausibility of association. Changes in both HRQOL and the anchors were calculated, and for each scale and time period, patients were categorized into one of the three clinical change groups: deteriorated by one anchor category, no change, or improved by one anchor category. Mean change method and linear regression were applied to estimate MIDs for interpreting within-group change and between-group differences in change over time, respectively. Distribution-based methods were applied to generate supportive evidence.ResultsA total of 1687 patients were enrolled in the three trials. The retained anchors were performance status and eight Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) scales. MIDs for interpreting within-group change ranged from 4 to 12 points for improvement and −4 to −14 points for deterioration. MIDs for between-group difference in change ranged from 4 to 9 for improvement and −4 to −16 for deterioration. Most anchor-based MIDs were closest to the 0.3 SD distribution-based estimates (range: 3-10).ConclusionsMIDs for the EORTC QLQ-C30 scales generally ranged between 4 and 11 points for both within-group mean change and between-group mean difference in change. These results can be used to interpret QLQ-C30 results from glioma trials.

One-Year Quality of Life Trends in Early-Stage Lung Cancer Patients After Lobectomy.

Objective: Quality of Life (QoL) is an important predictor of patient's recovery and survival in lung cancer patients. The aim of the present study is to identify 1-year trends of lung cancer patients' QoL after robot-assisted or traditional lobectomy and investigate whether clinical (e.g., pre-surgery QoL, type of surgery, and perioperative complications) and sociodemographic variables (e.g., age) may predict these trends.Methods: An Italian sample of 176 lung cancer patients undergoing lobectomy completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire—Core 30 (QLQ-C30) at the pre-hospitalization (t0), 30 days (t1), 4 months (t2), 8 months (t3), and 12 months (t4) after surgery. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics (age, gender, perioperative complications, and type of surgery) were also collected. The individual change over time of the 15 dimensions of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the effects of pre-surgery scores of QoL dimensions, type of surgery, perioperative complications, and age on patients' QoL after surgery were studied with the individual growth curve (IGC) models.Results: Patients had a good recovery after lobectomy: functioning subscales improved over time, while most of the symptoms became less severe over the care process. Perioperative complications, type of surgery, pre-surgery status, and age significantly affected these trends, thus becoming predictors of patients' QoL.Conclusion: This study highlights different 1-year trends of lung cancer patients' QoL. The measurement of pre- and post-surgery QoL and its clinical and sociodemographic covariables would be necessary to better investigate patients' care process and implement personalized medicine in lung cancer hospital divisions.

Abstract P1-19-06: Patient-reported outcomes, including work productivity, from the MONALEESA-7 trial of ribociclib plus endocrine therapy in patients with HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer

Abstract Background: MONALEESA-7 is a Phase III study (NCT02278120) and the only dedicated trial of endocrine therapy (ET) ± a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor in premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2−) advanced breast cancer (ABC). The study demonstrated that the addition of ribociclib (RIB) to a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI) or tamoxifen (TAM) + goserelin (GOS) significantly extended both progression-free survival (PFS; hazard ratio, 0.55; Tripathy D et al. Lancet Oncol. 2018) and overall survival (OS; hazard ratio, 0.71; Im S-A et al. N Engl J Med. 2019). Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and work productivity are other important aspects of clinical benefit, especially in the premenopausal population. We present analyses of QOL and work productivity from MONALEESA-7. Methods: Premenopausal or perimenopausal patients with HR+/HER2− ABC were treated with RIB or placebo (PBO) + GOS with either an NSAI (letrozole or anastrozole) or TAM. A secondary endpoint was evaluation of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for HRQOL using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life questionnaire core 30 (QLQ-C30). Assessments included global health status as well as social, emotional, and physical functioning. Description of Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) was an exploratory endpoint and was measured using the WPAI Questionnaire: General Health (WPAI:GH; V2.0). Results: Time to deterioration (TTD) ≥ 10% in EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status was prolonged with RIB vs PBO (median, 35.8 vs 23.3 months; hazard ratio, 0.665 [95% CI, 0.517-0.855]). TTD ≥ 10% in emotional functioning was also prolonged with RIB vs PBO (hazard ratio, 0.636 [95% CI, 0.488-0.828]), as was TTD ≥ 10% in social functioning (hazard ratio, 0.813 [95% CI, 0.610-1.084]) and TTD ≥ 10% in physical functioning (hazard ratio, 0.715 [95% CI, 0.526-0.972]). Compliance rates with the WPAI:GH were &amp;gt; 99% at baseline and &amp;gt; 98% at the end of treatment. Neither arm had an increase from baseline to the end of treatment in mean percentage of work missed due to overall health. Change in percent activity impairment due to overall health was comparable between treatment arms, as were change in percent impairment while working due to overall health and percent overall work impairment due to overall health. The trends observed with RIB vs PBO in the EORTC QLQ-C30 and WPAI:GH in the overall population were generally similar in the NSAI cohort. Conclusions: WPAI and global health are important considerations in the premenopausal patient population. Analysis of PROs demonstrated that TTD ≥ 10% in global health status and emotional functioning were prolonged with RIB vs PBO. Social and physical functioning were maintained in both treatment arms. Results in various WPAI domains demonstrated that productivity was also maintained in both groups. These QOL and WPAI results, in addition to the significantly longer PFS and OS results with RIB vs PBO, indicate a substantial clinical benefit with RIB treatment in premenopausal patients with HR+/HER2− ABC. Citation Format: Nadia Harbeck, Sara Hurvitz, Aditya Bardia, Fabio Franke, K. Gonvind Babu, Paul Wheatley-Price, Young-Hyuck Im, Kadri Altundag, Antonia Ridolfi, David Chandiwana, Brad Lanoue, Lakshmi Menon, Debu Tripathy. Patient-reported outcomes, including work productivity, from the MONALEESA-7 trial of ribociclib plus endocrine therapy in patients with HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-19-06.

Effects of curative-intent lung cancer therapy on functional exercise capacity and patient-reported outcomes.

Lung cancer treatment can lead to negative health consequences. We analyzed the effects of curative-intent lung cancer treatment on functional exercise capacity (EC) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). We performed a prospective, observational cohort study of consecutive patients with stage I-IIIA lung cancer undergoing curative-intent therapy and assessed functional EC (primary outcome, six-minute walk distance (6MWD)), cancer-specific quality of life (QoL) (secondary outcome, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30) summary score), and exploratory outcomes including dyspnea (University of California San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (UCSD SOBQ)) and fatigue Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI)) symptoms before and at 1 to 3months post-treatment. We analyzed the time effect of treatment on outcomes using multivariable generalized estimating equations. In 35 enrolled participants, treatment was associated with a clinically meaningful and borderline-significant decline in functional EC ((mean change, 95% CI) 6MWD = - 25.4m (- 55.3, + 4.47), p = 0.10), clinically meaningful and statistically significant higher dyspnea (UCSD SOBQ = + 13.1 (+ 5.7, + 20.6), p = 0.001) and fatigue (BFI = + 10.0 (+ 2.9, + 17.0), p = 0.006), but no clinically meaningful or statistically significant change in cancer-specific QoL (EORTC-QLQ-C30 summary score = - 3.4 (- 9.8, + 3.0), p = 0.30). Among the first prospective analysis of the effect of curative-intent lung cancer treatment on functional EC and PROs, we observed worsening dyspnea and fatigue, and possibly a decline in functional EC but not cancer-specific QoL at 1 to 3months post-treatment. Interventions to reduce treatment-related morbidities and improve lung cancer survivorship may need to focus on reducing dyspnea, fatigue, and/or improving functional EC.

Patient-Centered Evaluation of Clinical Benefit in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Importance of Early Engagement with Patients

INTRODUCTION Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most common form of acute leukemia among adults, is characterized by proliferation of immature myeloid cells in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and/or other tissues, resulting in cytopenias. Clinical features such as anemia cause fatigue and dyspnea, which may negatively impact health-related quality of life, emphasizing the need for patient-centered outcomes to evaluate new therapies. Patients are uniquely positioned to inform the understanding of the therapeutic context for clinical development and provide additional information not captured by traditional clinical measures. Understanding the AML patient experience is essential for selecting relevant patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. The purpose of this research was to incorporate the patient voice and generate an evidence base for selecting PRO endpoints for assessing clinical benefit. METHODS A cross-sectional, qualitative study was implemented among AML patients identified through clinical recruitment agencies and a patient advocacy organization. A targeted literature review (PubMed, Jan '00-Feb '19) and expert clinician consultation were conducted to explore the clinical perspective on treatment and observed patient experience. Following approval from an independent review board, qualitative concept-elicitation interviews were conducted with AML patients using a semi-structured interview guide. Patients completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and items from the EORTC item library; items were selected based on previous research in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically using inductive coding targeting manifestations of symptoms and impacts. To ensure enough patients were interviewed, saturation was assessed based on the number of new codes emerging in the data. RESULTS Patients were 63 (±6.3) years old; 65% female; 80% white; 75% retired; 95% married. Half were diagnosed within the last 6 months and 25% within 7-12 months of the interviews. Approximately 60% of patients were receiving treatment. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status (range: 0, fully active without restriction to 4, completely disabled and confined to bed or chair) was reported by patients (0=5%; 1=25%; 2=35%; 3=30%; 4=5%). A wide range of symptoms was reported by patients; among the most frequent were tiredness, general fatigue, lack of energy, shortness of breath on exertion, weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, bruising, bleeds (nose/gums), body aches/pain, fever, night sweats, constipation, and diarrhea (Figure). The following themes emerged from the analysis of symptom-related codes: fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, bleeding, general malaise/pain, and gastrointestinal issues. Patients reported a wide range of impacts on their daily lives, which included having to stay in bed/chair/couch, difficulty walking, difficulty lifting heavy objects, moving slowly, needing to take breaks, napping/sleeping during the day, not getting restful sleep, needing to lie down, difficulty doing various activities (e.g., driving, shopping, preparing food, doing yardwork, laundry), spending less time with family/friends or caring for yourself/others, depressed mood, worry, and having to be careful/mindful of risk of infection. The following main themes emerged from the analysis of impact-related codes: daily life functioning, leisure activities, physical mobility, sleep, social limitations, and psychological impact. Other themes that were reported by patients included appearance, cognition, and work (Figure). Debriefing results indicated that all patients comprehended the EORTC items tested and confirmed their relevance. CONCLUSIONS Direct patient engagement via qualitative research and thematic analysis provided a valuable evidence base to inform the selection of conceptually relevant PRO measures. The themes suitable for inclusion in clinical programs should be further discussed. Based on this research, the EORTC QLQ-C30 is a reasonable instrument for use in patients with AML. Early involvement of patients allows for potential inclusion of supplemental symptom and impact items from the EORTC Item Library in clinical programs to improve conceptual coverage of the patient experience. Disclosures Bell: Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Pompilus:Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Modus Outcomes: Employment. Rams:Modus Outcomes: Employment; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Zhu:Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Ciesluk:Modus Outcomes: Employment; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Bejar:Celgene: Consultancy; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; AbbVie/Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astex/Otsuka: Consultancy; Modus Outcomes: Consultancy; Daiichi-Sankyo: Consultancy. Fram:BeyondSpring Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Faller:Boston University: Employment; Phoenicia Biosciences: Equity Ownership; Viracta Pharmaceuticals: Equity Ownership; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment; Briacell Pharmaceuticals: Equity Ownership. Marquis:Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Modus Outcomes: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Dimensionality and Measurement Invariance of the Italian Version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in Postoperative Lung Cancer Patients.

BackgroundThis study aims to validate and evaluate the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Italian version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30), which is a measure of quality of life (QoL) for lung cancer patients after surgery.MethodsA total of 167 lung cancer patients completed the Italian version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire at 30 days after they received a lobectomy. The factor structure of this scale was assessed by performing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Measurement invariance was evaluated by considering differential item functioning (DIF) due to age, gender, and type of surgery (i.e., robot- or not robot-assisted).ResultsThe CFA demonstrated the validity of the factor structure of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in assessing overall health and eight distinct subscales of adverse events and functioning. Moreover, the results highlighted a minimal DIF with only trivial consequences on measurement invariance. Specifically, the DIF did not affect the mean differences of latent scores of QoL between patients undergoing robot-assisted surgery or traditional surgery.ConclusionThese findings supported the validity and suitability of the EORTC QLQ-C30 for the assessment of QoL in lung cancer patients of diverse ages and genders undergoing lobectomy with or without robot-assisted surgery.

A Prospective Evaluation of the Reliability and Utility of Quality of Life Measures in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Little is known about how quality of life (QOL) can assist clinical decision-making for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of QOL as well as its prognostic value and utility. A prospective cohort of 300 HCC patients at various stages was recruited from 2015 to 2017 in Korea. The subjects answered the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (QLQ-C30) and QLQ-HCC18 and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) questionnaire. Prognostic nomograms including the QOL scales were developed. The prediction performance of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging systems when they were incorporated with QOL was investigated. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HCC18 subscales showed higher reliability than FACT-Hep subscales. With regard to the validity, both questionnaires discriminated the patients by stages, treatment modalities, and performance status effectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that EORTC role functioning and EORTC appetite loss subscales were statistically associated with overall survival and disease progression. The developed nomograms accurately estimated the 1-year overall survival and disease progression-free rates. Incorporating the EORTC role functioning subscale or Hepatobiliary Cancer Subscale of FACT-Hep with the BCLC and AJCC systems improved the prognostic classification. Incorporating QOL into the AJCC system showed better predictive accuracy than incorporating performance status into it did. The findings suggest that QOL data can serve as a reliable predictive factor and assist prognostic calculation for HCC patients.

Telephone Follow-up Design and Practice for Advanced Cancer Pain Patients.

To describe the design of a telephone follow-up protocol and to evaluate the feasibility of this protocol for advanced cancer pain patients. A series of nine telephone follow-up calls was implemented with 40 advanced cancer pain patients within 3months after their discharge from the Department of Chemotherapy. Cancer pain information and the pain-related knowledge of the patients were collected by nurses using pain follow-up information sheets and the Patient Pain Questionnaire (PPQ); pain self-efficacy and the quality of life were reported by patients using the Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale (CPSS) Chinese version and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30) Chinese version. The average score assessed by advanced cancer pain patients of the need for pain care from nurses was 24.28 (SD = 4.90). Twenty-one and eight patients completed all nine telephone follow-up calls and seven self-reported questionnaires, respectively. The pain intensity of patients at the time of follow-up was mild, but there had been breakthrough pain in the previous week. All patients were satisfied with the nurses' pain follow-up practices. There was a highly positive correlation between the time of follow-up and the patients' pain-related knowledge scores (r = 0.963**, p < 0.01). Patients' pain self-efficacy scores and quality of life scores varied across different dimensions. The baseline pain self-efficacy subscales were associated with all dimensions of quality of life (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Telephone follow-up can be an effective method of transitional care. For advanced cancer pain patients, it is still necessary to further explore the cost effectiveness of this method, including the appropriate follow-up duration, endpoints, and outcome measures based on government requirements and policies.

Patient-reported health-related quality of life from the phase III TOURMALINE-MM1 study of ixazomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone versus placebo-lenalidomide-dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

TOURMALINE-MM1 is a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of ixazomib plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IRd) versus placebo-Rd in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma following 1-3 prior lines of therapy. The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) in the IRd arm versus placebo-Rd arm (median 20.6 vs 14.7 months, hazard ratio 0.74, P = .01), with limited additional toxicity. Patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was a secondary endpoint of TOURMALINE-MM1. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (QLQ-C30) and Multiple Myeloma Module 20 (QLQ-MY20) were completed at screening, the start of cycles 1 and 2, every other cycle, the end of treatment, and every 4 weeks until progression. Over median follow-up of 23.3 and 22.9 months in the IRd and placebo-Rd arms, mean QLQ-C30 global health status (GHS)/QoL scores were maintained from baseline over the course of treatment in both groups, with no statistically significant differences between groups. EORTC QLQ-C30 function domain scores were also generally maintained from baseline; similarly, physical, emotional, and social function domains were maintained with IRd versus placebo-Rd, with slightly higher mean change from baseline scores at earlier time points with IRd. Findings from this double-blind study demonstrate that addition of ixazomib to Rd significantly improved efficacy while HRQoL was maintained, reflecting the limited additional toxicity seen with IRd versus placebo-Rd, and support the feasibility of long-term IRd administration.

Exercise capacity and cancer-specific quality of life following curative intent treatment of stage I-IIIA lung cancer.

Lung cancer survivors are at risk for health impairments resulting from the effects and/or treatment of lung cancer and comorbidities. Practical exercise capacity (EC) assessments can help identify impairments that would otherwise remain undetected. In this study, we characterized and analyzed the association between functional EC and cancer-specific quality of life (QoL) in lung cancer survivors who previously completed curative intent treatment. In a cross-sectional study of 62 lung cancer survivors who completed treatment ≥ 1 month previously, we assessed functional EC with the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and cancer-specific QoL with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Cancer-specific QoL was defined using a validated composite EORTC-QLQ-C30 summary score. Univariable (UVA) and multivariable linear regression analyses (MVA) were performed to assess the relationship between functional EC and cancer-specific QoL. Lung cancer survivors had reduced functional EC (mean 6MWD = 335m, 65% predicted) and QoL (mean EORTC-QLQ-C30 summary score = 77, scale range 0-100). In UVA, 6MWD was significantly associated with cancer-specific QoL (R2 = 0.16, p = 0.001). In MVA, in a final model that also included heart failure, obstructive sleep apnea, and psychiatric illness, 6MWD was independently associated with cancer-specific QoL (partial R2 = 0.20, p = 0.001). Functional EC was independently associated with cancer-specific QoL in lung cancer patients postcurative intent treatment. Exercise-based interventions aimed at improving EC may improve cancer-specific QoL in these patients.

Minimal Clinically Important Difference of the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF) for Fatigue Worsening in Asian Breast Cancer Patients

ContextThe minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF), a questionnaire that measures cancer-related fatigue, has not been established in patients with cancer. ObjectivesThis study aims to determine the MCID of the MFSI-SF. MethodsBreast cancer patients completed the MFSI-SF and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30) before chemotherapy and at least three weeks later. The EORTC-QLQ-C30 fatigue scale (EORTC-FA) was used as an anchor, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was also used to identify the optimal MCID cut-off for fatigue deterioration. A distribution-based approach used one-third of the SD, half of the SD, and one SEM of the total MFSI-SF score to determine the MCID. ResultsA total of 201 patients were analyzed. Change scores of the MFSI-SF and EORTC-FA were moderately correlated (r = 0.47, P < 0.001). The EORTC-FA–anchored MCID was 8.69 points (95% CI: 4.03–13.34). The MCID attained from the ROC curve method was 4.50 points (sensitivity: 68.8%; specificity: 64.1%). For the distribution-based approach, the MCIDs corresponding to one-third of the SD, half of the SD, and one SEM were 5.39, 8.99, and 10.79 points, respectively. ConclusionThe MCID of the MFSI-SF identified by all approaches ranged from 4.50 to 10.79 points. The MCID can be used to interpret the clinical significance of fatigue deterioration in patients with breast cancer and to determine sample sizes for future clinical trials.

Nivolumab versus standard, single-agent therapy of investigator's choice in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (CheckMate 141): health-related quality-of-life results from a randomised, phase 3 trial

Patients with platinum-refractory recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck have few treatment options and poor prognosis. Nivolumab significantly improved survival of this patient population when compared with standard single-agent therapy of investigator's choice in Checkmate 141; here we report the effect of nivolumab on patient-reported outcomes (PROs). CheckMate 141 was a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who progressed within 6 months after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks (n=240) or investigator's choice (n=121) of methotrexate (40-60 mg/m2 of body surface area), docetaxel (30-40 mg/m2), or cetuximab (250 mg/m2 after a loading dose of 400 mg/m2) until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. On Jan 26, 2016, the independent data monitoring committee reviewed the data at the planned interim analysis and declared overall survival superiority for nivolumab over investigator's choice therapy (primary endpoint; described previously). The protocol was amended to allow patients in the investigator's choice group to cross over to nivolumab. All patients not on active therapy are being followed for survival. As an exploratory endpoint, PROs were assessed at baseline, week 9, and every 6 weeks thereafter using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30), the EORTC head and neck cancer-specific module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35), and the three-level European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire. Differences within and between treatment groups in PROs were analysed by ANCOVA among patients with baseline and at least one other assessment. All randomised patients were included in the time to clinically meaningful deterioration analyses. Median time to clinically meaningful deterioration was analysed by Kaplan-Meier methods. CheckMate 141 was registered with ClinicalTrials.org, number NCT02105636. Patients were enrolled between May 29, 2014, and July 31, 2015, and subsequently 361 patients were randomly assigned to receive nivolumab (n=240) or investigator's choice (n=121). Among them, 129 patients (93 in the nivolumab group and 36 in the investigator's choice group) completed any of the PRO questionnaires at baseline and at least one other assessment. Treatment with nivolumab resulted in adjusted mean changes from baseline to week 15 ranging from -2·1 to 5·4 across functional and symptom domains measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30, with no domains indicating clinically meaningful deterioration. By contrast, eight (53%) of the 15 domains in the investigator's choice group showed clinically meaningful deterioration (10 points or more) at week 15 (change from baseline range, -24·5 to 2·4). Similarly, on the EORTC QLQ-H&N35, clinically meaningful worsening at week 15 was seen in no domains in the nivolumab group and eight (44%) of 18 domains in the investigator's choice group. Patients in the nivolumab group had a clinically meaningful improvement (according to a difference of 7 points or greater) in adjusted mean change from baseline to week 15 on the EQ-5D visual analogue scale, in contrast to a clinically meaningful deterioration in the investigator's choice group (7·3 vs -7·8). Differences between groups were significant and clinically meaningful at weeks 9 and 15 in favour of nivolumab for role functioning, social functioning, fatigue, dyspnoea, and appetite loss on the EORTC QLQ-C30 and pain and sensory problems on the EORTC QLQ-H&N35. Median time to deterioration was significantly longer with nivolumab versus investigator's choice for 13 (37%) of 35 domains assessed across the three questionnaires. In this exploratory analysis of CheckMate 141, nivolumab stabilised symptoms and functioning from baseline to weeks 9 and 15, whereas investigator's choice led to clinically meaningful deterioration. Nivolumab delayed time to deterioration of patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes compared with single-agent therapy of investigator's choice in patients with platinum-refractory recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. In view of the major unmet need in this population and the importance of maintaining or improving quality of life for patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, these data support nivolumab as a new standard-of-care option in this setting. Bristol-Myers Squibb.