Health-related Quality of Life Before and During Adjuvant Interferon-α Treatment for Patients With Malignant Melanoma (DeCOG-Trial)

• DOI: 10.1097/cji.0b013e31821b7a4b
• Publication Date: 2011-04-15T12:56:07Z
• Authors: Susanne Ziefle; Friederike Egberts; Sarah Heinze; Matthias Volkenandt; Monika Schmid-Wen...; Wolfgang Tilgen; Ruthild Linse; Jörg Boettjer; Thomas Vogt; Konstanze Spieth; Thomas Eigentler; Norbert H. Brockm...; Andreas Heinz; Axel Hauschild; Martin Schaefer
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Interferon-alpha; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Sex Factors; 0302 clinical medicine; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Surveys and Questionnaires; Quality of Life; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Female; Melanoma; Aged

Adjuvant treatment with interferon-α (IFN-α) for patients malignant melanoma can improve relapse-free and overall survival, but IFN-associated side effects may reduce patient's quality of life. The aim the study was to prospectively evaluate health-related life (HRQoL) in before during Low-Dose IFN-α therapy. In a prospective multicenter trial conducted by Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group, 850 cutaneous stage II received standard IFN-α-2a. We evaluated HRQoL using European Organization Research Treatment Cancer Quality Life Core 30 questionnaire at baseline after 3, 6, 12 months 282 patients. Nine 15 subscales showed significant poorer results 3 adjuvant IFN treatment. Symptoms included reduced physical functioning, cognitive fatigue, nausea, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, diarrhea, loss appetite. did not find change over time role, emotional, or social functioning. Only functioning dyspnea continuously worsened through twelfth month. At women had significantly lower scores emotional fatigue compared men. During treatment, scored on constipation subscales. Patients who reported having bad very QoL were 5.8 times more likely discontinue early because psychiatric problems. conclude that low-dose is associated deterioration HRQoL. Specific psychosocial care should be offered especially report problems prevent discontinuation.