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Longitudinal Analysis of Quality of Life in Patients Receiving Conformal Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Longitudinale Untersuchung der Lebensqualität bei Patienten mit konformaler Strahlentherapie des Prostatakarzinoms

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An Erratum to this article was published on 28 January 2010

Purpose:

To prospectively assess quality of life (QoL) in patients receiving conformal radiation therapy (CRT) for prostate cancer.

Patients and Methods:

78 men with definitive CRT for prostate cancer were entered into the study. Patients were assessed before CRT, at 40 and 60 Gy, and 2, 12 and 24 months after the end of treatment. QoL was assessed using the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and the prostate module PR25. Changes in mean QoL scores with time of ≥ 10 points were considered clinically relevant.

Results:

Global QoL did not change statistically significant during CRT and was slightly above baseline levels during follow-up. CRT had a statistically significant negative short-term impact on role functioning, fatigue, and PR25 urinary symptoms. The scores recovered within 2 months to 1 year after CRT. Emotional functioning and social functioning scores slightly increased during and after CRT. Role functioning decreased by > 10 points at 60 Gy and urinary symptoms decreased by > 10 points at 40 and 60 Gy. All other differences were < 10 points. A high number of concomitant diseases and having no children were negative pretreatment predictors for long-term global QoL.

Conclusion:

Definitive CRT for prostate cancer does not compromise global QoL during therapy and up to 2 years after treatment. It has a limited negative effect on role functioning, urinary symptoms and, to a lesser extent, on fatigue with restitution within 2 months to 1 year after treatment.

Ziel:

Prospektive Untersuchung der gesundheitsassoziierten Lebensqualität bei Patienten mit konformaler Strahlentherapie des Prostatakarzinoms.

Patienten und Methodik:

78 Patienten mit definitiver konformaler Strahlentherapie eines Prostatakarzinoms wurden vor, während (40 Gy, 60 Gy) sowie 2, 12 und 24 Monate nach Therapie untersucht. Zur Evaluation der Lebensqualität wurden der EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 und das Prostatamodul PR25 verwendet. Veränderungen ≥ 10 Scorepunkte wurden als klinisch signifikant eingestuft.

Ergebnisse:

Die globale Lebensqualität änderte sich während der Strahlentherapie nicht statistisch signifikant und lag im Beobachtungszeitraum nach Behandlung etwas oberhalb der Ausgangswerte. Es fand sich ein kurzfristiger, statistisch signifikanter negativer Effekt auf Rollenfunktion, Fatigue und urologische Symptome. Die betroffenen Scores erholten sich innerhalb von 8 Wochen bis 1 Jahr nach der Strahlentherapie. Der emotionale und der soziale Funktionsscore stiegen während und nach Therapie etwas an. Bei 60 Gy lag die Rollenfunktion um > 10 Punkte unterhalb des Ausgangswerts, und bei 40 und 60 Gy stieg der Score für urologische Symptome um > 10 Punkte über den Ausgangswert an. Alle anderen Veränderungen waren < 10 Scorepunkte. Eine höhere Anzahl an Begleiterkrankungen und Kinderlosigkeit waren negative prätherapeutische Prädiktoren für die globale Lebensqualität nach 2 Jahren.

Schlussfolgerung:

Eine definitive konformale Strahlentherapie des Prostatakarzinoms wirkt sich nicht negativ auf die globale Lebensqualität während und bis zu 2 Jahren nach Behandlung aus. Sie hat einen zeitlich limitierten negativen Effekt auf die Rollenfunktion und die urologischen Symptome und in einem geringeren Ausmaß auf die Fatigue.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Technische Universität München, München, Germany

    Hans Geinitz, Reinhard Thamm, Christian Scholz, Christine Heinrich, Nina Prause, Simone Kerndl, Michael Molls & Frank B. Zimmermann

  2. Psychooncology Section, Department of Psychosomatic and General Clinical Medicine, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany

    Monika Keller

  3. Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Technische Universität München, München, Germany

    Raymonde Busch

  4. Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie und Radiologische Onkologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675, München, Germany

    Hans Geinitz

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  1. Hans Geinitz
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  2. Reinhard Thamm
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  4. Christine Heinrich
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Correspondence to Hans Geinitz.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00066-010-7001-6

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Geinitz, H., Thamm, R., Scholz, C. et al. Longitudinal Analysis of Quality of Life in Patients Receiving Conformal Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer. Strahlenther Onkol 186, 46–52 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-009-2023-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-009-2023-7

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