Symptom burden and quality of life in patients with follicular lymphoma undergoing maintenance treatment with rituximab compared with observation

Abstract

Abstract:Background: The impact on health related quality of life (HRQoL) of rituximab maintenance (R-M) versus observation (OBS) after induction for treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL) is unclear. Methods: We reviewed the charts of 137 patients (53% female, 87% White, age 61.0±12.4 years) who received either R-M (n ¼ 53) or OBS (n ¼ 84) after chemotherapy induction for newly diagnosed FL at community oncology practices within the US. Patients (65% with advanced disease; 48% with a high FLIPI score [35]) had completed 1 Patient Care Monitor HRQoL survey in the period following front-line therapy, and were excluded if they had progressed during front-line therapy. Results: Linear mixed models showed that postinduction, most symptoms were stable, with patients on R-M reporting HRQoL that was equal to that reported by OBS patients. Conclusions: Among R-M patients, receipt of rituximab was associated with improved psychological symptoms.

Impact of therapy and disease‐related symptoms on health‐related quality of life in patients with follicular lymphoma: results of the population‐based PHAROS‐registry

“…FL patients who received high‐dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant reported better HRQoL on two domains, that is, social functioning and pain compared with patients after R‐CHOP . An American study among 137 FL patients observed that after frontline therapy, no difference in HRQoL was observed between patients treated with rituximab maintenance therapy vs. patients under active surveillance . Our observation that FL patients who underwent immunochemotherapy reported fatigue more often compared with patients after radiotherapy can also result from the extensiveness of the disease, although there was no/little difference in HRQoL between patients who underwent one or more treatment line.…”

Symptom burden & quality of life among patients receiving second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

“…Although PCM index scores may be less sensitive to specific effects due to their composite nature, previous research has shown them to be sensitive endpoints in other cancer populations [26,30,31]. As noted, these were not the focus of the analysis, but given findings in prior research, the absence of findings for PCM index scores was somewhat unexpected.…”

Expectations and Experience: Optimising Efficacy and Maintaining Quality of Life in Follicular Lymphoma

“…46 A community-based study from the USA exploring the physical symptoms, side effects, and impaired performance in FL patients showed that, after first-line therapy, HRQoL of patients receiving R was equal to that of those undergoing observation. 47 Exploring HRQoL in GALLIUM, comparable improvements were found for G-chemo and R-chemo during maintenance and follow-up. 48 During remission, there is debate over whether patients should be offered intermittent appointments or make appointments when they experience concerns.…”