Project description: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.
Project description:ObjectiveThis systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of sublobar resection (SLR) on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Specifically, it compared outcomes between sublobar resection, lobectomy, and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).MethodsA literature search was conducted across PubMed and Scopus, identifying studies published from 2010 to 2024 that reported QOL outcomes in early-stage NSCLC patients treated with lobectomy, SLR, or SBRT. Inclusion criteria were studies with more than 10 patients, written in English, and using validated QoL metrics. Data on demographics, interventions, QoL tools, and findings were extracted, and study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the ROBINS-I tool.ResultsFive studies involving 1,149 patients from six countries met the inclusion criteria. QoL outcomes consistently favored SLR over lobectomy in domains such as physical and respiratory function, with SLR patients experiencing faster recovery and fewer complications. Minimally invasive techniques, such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), further enhanced these outcomes. SBRT demonstrated stable QOL post-treatment but lacked the long-term physical recovery benefits observed with SLR. Commonly employed QoL tools included the EORTC QLQ-C30, Leicester Cough Questionnaire, and NSCLC-PQOL, each capturing distinct dimensions of patient QoL status.ConclusionSublobar resection provides significant QoL benefits for selected early-stage NSCLC patients compared to lobectomy, particularly in respiratory health and recovery endpoints. These findings highlight the value of personalized surgical approaches and the need for further research on optimizing QoL in NSCLC management.
Project description:PurposeLung 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.MethodsIn 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.ResultsLung cancer survivors had reduced functional EC (mean 6MWD = 335 m, 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).ConclusionsFunctional 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.
Project description:IntroductionPulmonary emphysema is a frequent comorbidity in lung cancer, but its role in tumor prognosis remains obscure. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of the regional emphysema score (RES) on a patient's overall survival, quality of life (QOL), and recovery of pulmonary function in stage I to II lung cancer.MethodsBetween 1997 and 2009, a total of 1073 patients were identified and divided into two surgical groups-cancer in the emphysematous (group 1 [n = 565]) and nonemphysematous (group 2 [n = 435]) regions-and one nonsurgical group (group 3 [n = 73]). RES was derived from the emphysematous region and categorized as mild (≤5%), moderate (6%-24%), or severe (25%-60%).ResultsIn group 1, patients with a moderate or severe RES experienced slight decreases in postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second, but increases in the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity compared with those with a mild RES (p < 0.01); however, this correlation was not observed in group 2. Posttreatment QOL was lower in patients with higher RESs in all groups, mainly owing to dyspnea (p < 0.05). Cox regression analysis revealed that patients with a higher RES had significantly poorer survival in both surgical groups, with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.41 and 1.43 for a moderate RES and 1.63 and 2.04 for a severe RES, respectively; however, this association was insignificant in the nonsurgical group (adjusted hazard ratio of 0.99 for a moderate or severe RES).ConclusionsIn surgically treated patients with cancer in the emphysematous region, RES is associated with postoperative changes in lung function. RES is also predictive of posttreatment QOL related to dyspnea in early-stage lung cancer. In both surgical groups, RES is an independent predictor of survival.
Project description:ObjectiveAlthough the incidence of lung cancer has decreased over the past decades, disparities in survival and treatment modalities have been observed for black and white patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, despite the fact that surgical resection has been established as the standard of care. Possible contributors to these disparities are stage at diagnosis, comorbidities, socioeconomic factors, and patient preference. This study examines racial disparities in treatment, adjusting for clinicodemographic factors.MethodsThe Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare dataset was queried to identify patients diagnosed with primary stage I non-small cell lung cancer between 1992 and 2009. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to assess the association between race and treatment modalities within 1 year of diagnosis, adjusted for clinical and demographic factors. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were performed to evaluate disparities in survival, accounting for mode of treatment.ResultsWe identified 22,724 patients; 21,230 (93.4%) white and 1494 (6.6%) black. Black patients were less likely to receive treatment (odds ratio [OR]adj, 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-0.73) and less likely to receive surgery only when treated (ORadj, 0.70, 95% CI, 0.61-0.79). Although univariate survival for black patients was worse, when accounting for treatment mode, there was no difference in survival (hazard ratioadj, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.90-1.04 for all patients, hazard ratioadj, 0.98; 95% CI: 0.90-1.06 for treated patients).ConclusionsTreatment disparities persist, even when adjusting for clinical and demographic factors. However, when black patients receive similar treatment, survival is comparable with white patients.
Project description:BackgroundDecision-making for lung cancer treatment can be complex because it involves both provider recommendations based on the patient's clinical condition and patient preferences. This study describes the relative importance of several considerations in lung cancer treatment from the patient's perspective.MethodsA conjoint preference experiment began by asking respondents to imagine that they had just been diagnosed with lung cancer. Respondents then chose among procedures that differed regarding treatment modalities, the potential for treatment-related complications, the likelihood of recurrence, provider case volume, and distance needed to travel for treatment. Conjoint analysis derived relative weights for these attributes.ResultsA total of 225 responses were analyzed. Respondents were most willing to accept minimally invasive operations for treatment of their hypothetical lung cancer, followed by stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT); they were least willing to accept thoracotomy. Treatment type and risk of recurrence were the most important attributes from the conjoint experiment (each with a relative weight of 0.23), followed by provider volume (relative weight of 0.21), risk of major complications (relative weight of 0.18), and distance needed to travel for treatment (relative weight of 0.15). Procedural and treatment preferences did not vary with demographics, self-reported health status, or familiarity with the procedures.ConclusionsSurvey respondents preferred minimally invasive operations over SBRT or thoracotomy for treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Treatment modality and risk of cancer recurrence were the most important factors associated with treatment preferences. Provider experience outweighed the potential need to travel for lung cancer treatment.
Project description:Management of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) consists in multimodal treatment, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The mainstay of treatment is radical surgery. Definitive radiotherapy using stereotactic techniques can provide adequate local disease control, and is the treatment of choice in medically inoperable patients. Most early-stage patients are at significant risk of disease relapse after local treatment. Adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy has demonstrated to provide an absolute survival benefit of 5% compared to observation. However, unlike advanced/metastatic disease, little progress has been made in the treatment of early-stage NSCLC over the past decade. In recent years, plenty of research has focused on the optimization of adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment. Several trials with novel drugs, such as targeted agents and immune-checkpoint inhibitors are currently underway, with preliminary positive results. Customization of treatment on patients' characteristics before, and major pathological response after therapy, will further improve survival outcomes in this subset of patients.
Project description:PurposeAdjuvant chemotherapy for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is now the standard of care, but there is little information regarding its impact on quality of life (QOL). We report the QOL results of JBR.10, a North American, intergroup, randomized trial of adjuvant cisplatin and vinorelbine compared with observation in patients who have completely resected, stages IB to II NSCLC.Patients and methodsQOL was assessed with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and a trial-specific checklist at baseline and at weeks 5 and 9 for those who received chemotherapy and at follow-up months 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36. A 10-point change in QOL scores from baseline was considered clinically significant.ResultsFour hundred eighty-two patients were randomly assigned on JBR.10. A total of 173 patients (82% of the expected) in the observation arm and 186 (85% of expected) in the chemotherapy arm completed baseline QOL assessments. The two groups were comparable, with low global QOL scores and significant symptom burden, especially pain and fatigue, after thoracotomy. Changes in QOL during chemotherapy were relatively modest; fatigue, nausea, and vomiting worsened, but there was a reduction in pain and no change in global QOL. Patients in the observation arm showed considerable improvements in QOL by 3 months. QOL, except for symptoms of sensory neuropathy and hearing loss, in those treated with chemotherapy returned to baseline by 9 months.ConclusionThe findings of this trial indicate that the negative effects of adjuvant chemotherapy on QOL appear to be temporary, and that improvements (with a return to baseline function) are likely in most patients.
Project description:PurposeThis study investigated the impact of skeletal muscle quality on the outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsA total of 98 patients with pathological stage I-II NSCLC who underwent lobectomy or segmentectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Along with skeletal muscle quantity, muscle quality was evaluated by intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC) at the first lumbar vertebral level; a higher IMAC indicates lower skeletal muscle quality. Patients were divided into two groups according to the gender-specific quartiles of IMAC, and the prognostic impact of IMAC was investigated.ResultsNo significant differences in the body and skeletal mass indices, which indicate skeletal muscle quantity, were observed between patients with high and those with normal IMAC. Patients with high IMAC (n = 23) showed a significantly poorer prognosis in overall and disease-specific survivals than those with normal IMAC (n = 75; P <0.001 and P = 0.048, respectively). In a bivariate analysis that included other clinicopathological factors, a high IMAC was independently associated with worse overall survival.ConclusionThe skeletal muscle quality evaluated by IMAC could be used to predict survival risk after surgery for early-stage NSCLC.