Late toxicity, evolving radiotherapy techniques, and quality of life in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

• DOI: 10.1007/s11547-016-0722-6
• Publication Date: 2017-01-09T05:35:30Z
• Authors: Luciana Lastrucci; Silvia Bertocci; Vittorio Bini; Simona Borghesi; Roberta De Majo; Andrea Rampini; Paola Pernici; Pietro Giovanni G...
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Male; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Adolescent; Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Radiotherapy Dosage; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Treatment Outcome; 0302 clinical medicine; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Quality of Life; Humans; Female; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; Radiation Injuries; Aged; Neoplasm Staging

To analyze quality of life (QoL) and functional state (FS) by patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires (FACT-G, FACT-NP, PSS-HN, XeQOLS, and EQ-5D-3L) in long-term survivors nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with conventional radiotherapy (RT) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).25 patients answered to five questionnaires about QoL and FS. All patients were assessed also for late toxicity.Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and Performance Status Scale Head and Neck (PSS-HN) scores were significantly elevated (better QoL) in age <50 years (p = 0.03). PSS-HN score was higher in IMRT group. The observed xerostomia was lower in the IMRT group and in patients who received conventional RT had worse QoL according to XeQOLS (University of Michigan Xerostomia-Related Quality of Life Scale) score questionnaire. Lower PSS-HN score and higher XeQOLS score were significantly related with the late xerostomia (p = 0.009 and 0.002, respectively).Our preliminary data suggest that age, older techniques, xerostomia, and hearing loss are negative predictors of QoL.