The relationship between quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) and survival in patients with gastro-oesopohageal cancer

McKernan, M., McMillan, D.C. , Anderson, J.R., Angerson, W.J. and Stuart, R.C. (2008) The relationship between quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) and survival in patients with gastro-oesopohageal cancer. British Journal of Cancer, 98(5), pp. 888-893. (doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6604248)

Abstract

It remains unclear whether any aspect of quality of life has a role in predicting survival in an unselected cohort of patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer. Therefore the aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), clinico-pathological characteristics and survival in patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer. Patients presenting with gastric or oesophageal cancer, staged using the UICC tumour node metastasis (TNM) classification and who received either potentially curative surgery or palliative treatment between November 1997 and December 2002 (n=152) participated in a quality of life study, using the EORTC QLQ-C30 core questionnaire. On univariate analysis, age (P < 0.01), tumour length (P < 0.0001), TNM stage (P<0.0001), weight loss (P<0.0001), dysphagia score (P<0.001), performance status (P<0.1) and treatment (P<0.0001) were significantly associated with cancer-specific survival. EORTC QLQ-C30, physical functioning (P<0.0001), role functioning (P<0.001), cognitive functioning (P<0.01), social functioning (P<0.0001), global quality of life (P<0.0001), fatigue (P<0.0001), nausea/vomiting (P<0.01), pain (P<0.001), dyspnoea (P<0.0001), appetite loss (P<0.0001) and constipation (P<0.05) were also significantly associated with cancer-specific survival. On multivariate survival analysis, tumour stage (P<0.0001), treatment (P<0.001) and appetite loss (P<0.0001) were significant independent predictors of cancer-specific survival. The present study highlights the importance of quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) measures, in particular appetite loss, as a prognostic factor in these patients.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McMillan, Professor Donald
• Authors: McKernan, M., McMillan, D.C., Anderson, J.R., Angerson, W.J., and Stuart, R.C.
• Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General); R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer)
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Clinical Specialities
• Journal Name: British Journal of Cancer
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• ISSN: 0007-0920
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2008 Nature Publishing Group
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Cancer 98(5):888-893
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher