Patient‐Reported Outcomes for Patients With Metastatic NSCLC Treated at an Academic Medical Center, 2017–2021

ABSTRACT Background Understanding the symptom burden experienced by patients with cancer can enable appropriate supportive care. Our aim was to describe patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) for patients with metastatic NSCLC initiating first‐line (1L) systemic therapy under usual care at a large academi...

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Main Authors: Loretta A. Williams, Cai Xu, Darcy A. Ponce, Qiuling Shi, Melissa L. Santorelli, Thomas Burke, Mehmet Altan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71111
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author Loretta A. Williams
Cai Xu
Darcy A. Ponce
Qiuling Shi
Melissa L. Santorelli
Thomas Burke
Mehmet Altan
author_facet Loretta A. Williams
Cai Xu
Darcy A. Ponce
Qiuling Shi
Melissa L. Santorelli
Thomas Burke
Mehmet Altan
author_sort Loretta A. Williams
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Understanding the symptom burden experienced by patients with cancer can enable appropriate supportive care. Our aim was to describe patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) for patients with metastatic NSCLC initiating first‐line (1L) systemic therapy under usual care at a large academic center. Methods Patients eligible for this prospective observational study were ≥ 18 years old when initiating 1L systemic therapy for stage IV NSCLC from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020. Patients completed two PRO questionnaires before 1L therapy initiation (baseline) and every ~6 weeks at imaging visits thereafter: the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for lung cancer (MDASI‐LC) and EuroQol EQ‐5D‐5L. Study follow‐up ended on June 30, 2021. Results The 609 eligible patients (median age, 63 years; range, 24–87; 51% men) received 1L chemotherapy plus immunotherapy (38%), targeted therapy (29%), chemotherapy (19%), or immunotherapy (13%). The five most severe MDASI‐LC symptoms among all assessments were fatigue, pain, shortness of breath, disturbed sleep, and dry mouth; 17%–32% of assessments were rated as moderate or severe. Of all assessments, 39% recorded moderate to severe symptom interference with physical aspects of daily life, and 22% reported moderate to severe interference with affective aspects. Symptom and interference subscale scores generally declined from baseline to 102 weeks overall and for the four 1L regimens. Conclusion Our findings confirm previous findings that patients with a new diagnosis of metastatic NSCLC experience a moderate symptom burden. More research is needed to identify predictors and causes of this symptom burden so that it can be effectively addressed.
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spelling doaj-art-bacd53a5cee147c1948b917928e3e9682025-08-20T04:03:08ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342025-08-011415n/an/a10.1002/cam4.71111Patient‐Reported Outcomes for Patients With Metastatic NSCLC Treated at an Academic Medical Center, 2017–2021Loretta A. Williams0Cai Xu1Darcy A. Ponce2Qiuling Shi3Melissa L. Santorelli4Thomas Burke5Mehmet Altan6Department of Symptom Research The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas USADepartment of Symptom Research The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas USADepartment of Symptom Research The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas USADepartment of Symptom Research The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas USAValue and Implementation Outcomes Research, Oncology Merck & Co., Inc. Rahway New Jersey USAOutcomes Research MRL, Merck & Co., Inc. Rahway New Jersey USADepartment of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas USAABSTRACT Background Understanding the symptom burden experienced by patients with cancer can enable appropriate supportive care. Our aim was to describe patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) for patients with metastatic NSCLC initiating first‐line (1L) systemic therapy under usual care at a large academic center. Methods Patients eligible for this prospective observational study were ≥ 18 years old when initiating 1L systemic therapy for stage IV NSCLC from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020. Patients completed two PRO questionnaires before 1L therapy initiation (baseline) and every ~6 weeks at imaging visits thereafter: the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for lung cancer (MDASI‐LC) and EuroQol EQ‐5D‐5L. Study follow‐up ended on June 30, 2021. Results The 609 eligible patients (median age, 63 years; range, 24–87; 51% men) received 1L chemotherapy plus immunotherapy (38%), targeted therapy (29%), chemotherapy (19%), or immunotherapy (13%). The five most severe MDASI‐LC symptoms among all assessments were fatigue, pain, shortness of breath, disturbed sleep, and dry mouth; 17%–32% of assessments were rated as moderate or severe. Of all assessments, 39% recorded moderate to severe symptom interference with physical aspects of daily life, and 22% reported moderate to severe interference with affective aspects. Symptom and interference subscale scores generally declined from baseline to 102 weeks overall and for the four 1L regimens. Conclusion Our findings confirm previous findings that patients with a new diagnosis of metastatic NSCLC experience a moderate symptom burden. More research is needed to identify predictors and causes of this symptom burden so that it can be effectively addressed.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71111advanced lung cancerfirst‐line treatmentpatient‐reported outcomessymptom burdensymptom interferencesymptoms
spellingShingle Loretta A. Williams
Cai Xu
Darcy A. Ponce
Qiuling Shi
Melissa L. Santorelli
Thomas Burke
Mehmet Altan
Patient‐Reported Outcomes for Patients With Metastatic NSCLC Treated at an Academic Medical Center, 2017–2021
Cancer Medicine
advanced lung cancer
first‐line treatment
patient‐reported outcomes
symptom burden
symptom interference
symptoms
title Patient‐Reported Outcomes for Patients With Metastatic NSCLC Treated at an Academic Medical Center, 2017–2021
title_full Patient‐Reported Outcomes for Patients With Metastatic NSCLC Treated at an Academic Medical Center, 2017–2021
title_fullStr Patient‐Reported Outcomes for Patients With Metastatic NSCLC Treated at an Academic Medical Center, 2017–2021
title_full_unstemmed Patient‐Reported Outcomes for Patients With Metastatic NSCLC Treated at an Academic Medical Center, 2017–2021
title_short Patient‐Reported Outcomes for Patients With Metastatic NSCLC Treated at an Academic Medical Center, 2017–2021
title_sort patient reported outcomes for patients with metastatic nsclc treated at an academic medical center 2017 2021
topic advanced lung cancer
first‐line treatment
patient‐reported outcomes
symptom burden
symptom interference
symptoms
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71111
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