Quality of life in good prognosis patients with metastatic germ cell cancer: a prospective study of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Genitourinary Group/Medical Research Council Testicular Cancer Study Group (30941/TE20).

Purpose: To describe global quality of life (GLQL) in patients with metastatic testicular cancer (TC) treated with four different schedules of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy (four v three cycles given over 5 v 3 days).

Patients And Methods: Quality-of-life data were prospectively collected in 666 patients with metastatic TC entered into the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Trial 30941/United Kingdom Medical Research Council Trial TE20, using the EORTC Quality-of-Life Questionnaire C30 and a TC module. Data were analyzed by a mixed effects model and by evaluation of clinically relevant changes at 2 years.

Fatigue and quality of life: lessons from the real world.

The impact of fatigue on the quality of life of oncology patients is substantial and under-recognized. Fatigue in these patients may begin with a simple decrease in physical activity, but can progress to include a wide range of negative effects that often culminate in patients feeling out of control, lonely, and isolated. In general, surviving cancer patients experience some limitations after the end of treatment but ultimately attain a reasonably good level of functioning.

The challenges and achievements involved in implementing Quality of Life research in cancer clinical trials.

Over the last decade, Quality of Life (QOL) research has become an important aspect of cancer clinical trials. A dramatically increasing number of published studies, both randomised and non-randomised, report QOL outcomes. There is increasing evidence that QOL results impact on both future research and treatment decisions for clinicians.

Health related quality of life in prostate carcinoma patients: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is increasingly reported as an important endpoint in cancer clinical trials. However, evidence suggests that HRQOL reporting is often inadequate. Given this, the authors undertook a systematic review to evaluate HRQOL assessment methodology and reported outcomes of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) with prostate carcinoma patients.

Multicollinearity in prognostic factor analyses using the EORTC QLQ-C30: identification and impact on model selection.

Clinical and quality of life (QL) variables from an EORTC clinical trial of first line chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer were used in a prognostic factor analysis of survival and response to chemotherapy. For response, different final multivariate models were obtained from forward and backward selection methods, suggesting a disconcerting instability. Quality of life was measured using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire completed by patients.

Treatment satisfaction as an outcome measure in cancer clinical treatment trials.

For many years, medical research has focused on 'hard' end-points, such as survival or time to progression, when evaluating research in cancer clinical trials. However, over recent years more recognition has been given to 'softer' end-points, such as quality of life and treatment satisfaction. In many respects, research into treatment satisfaction is in its early stages of development, but we are already beginning to understand that patients' treatment satisfaction can provide great insights into the management of cancer patients.

Quality of life in patients undergoing systemic therapy for advanced breast cancer.

To date no published reviews have examined the effects of systemic therapy on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with advanced breast cancer. We did a systematic review identifying 19 randomised controlled trials, with 5732 participants. Most of the trials (12) involved chemotherapy, but six involved hormonal therapies, and one a biological therapy.

Health related quality of life assessment methodology and reported outcomes in randomised controlled trials of primary brain cancer patients.

Over the last 20 years, the assessment of quality of life (QOL) has become an important endpoint in cancer clinical trials, helping us to understand patient survival and QOL experiences and aiding clinicians in providing the best possible treatment and care, with the least toxicity and ill-effects. In primary brain cancer, these are critical issues. Survival is often limited and treatment difficult to tolerate.

The development and utilisation of the European Organisation for research and treatment of cancer quality of life group item bank.

One of the problems in assessing patients' quality of life (QL) is the availability of good robust measures that have demonstrated validity, reliability and sensitivity for changes over time, but also have been validated across a large group of culturally diverse nations. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group (QLG) has recognised this and has established a substantial research programme with the aim of developing such tools, with particular relevance to cancer clinical trials. However, the management of a large set of items in multiple languages is difficult and very labour-intensive.

The cancer patient and quality of life.

Over the last decade, clinicians have accepted that while survival and disease-free survival are critical factors for cancer patients, overall quality-of-life is fundamental. This review considers recent developments in the field of quality of life, oncological challenges and future directions.

Human recombinant erythropoietin and quality of life: a wonder drug or something to wonder about?

Over the past decade an increasing number of studies have supported the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin) in cancer patients, suggesting that it improves haemoglobin concentrations for some. There is also evidence that this treatment may lead to improvement in quality of life for cancer patients. This systematic review examines the issue.

Quality of life research within the EORTC-the EORTC QLQ-C30. European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer.

In forming its Quality of Life Group, the EORTC created one of the earliest and largest of such groups in Europe. The EORTC QLQ-C30 which this group developed has become the most widely used questionnaire in Europe for cancer patients, and is extensively used around the world. The Quality of Life Group continues to build upon this success, both by refining the QLQ-C30, whilst developing a range of additional modules, and by initiating research projects that explore aspects of quality of life assessment, evaluation and interpretation.

Fatigue assessment in cancer clinical trials.

Studies repeatedly show that fatigue correlates directly with overall quality of life, greater fatigue leading to poorer outcomes. A considerable number of studies reported in the last decade stress the complex problem faced by cancer patients experiencing fatigue, when undergoing treatments and/or following a course of treatment. Fatigue can continue for many years after cure and for those patients with an active or progressive disease, fatigue can lead to a loss of overall quality of life that is limiting in the extreme.

Quality of life in breast cancer patients: measurement issues in cancer clinical trials.

Quality of life is becoming a significant issue to measure in breast cancer patients. Increasingly, in breast cancer clinical trials we see quality of life as a secondary end-point and we are understanding more about the needs of these women. However, as yet, there is no gold standard regarding which tool is the most appropriate to use.

Quality of life issues in gynecological cancer.

Understanding quality of life has become an increasingly important issue in the treatment and clinical care of patients with gynecological cancer. The short- and long-term side-effects of treatment may also impact on a woman's self worth and sexuality. In our review we address the key issues related to the treatment and management of patients with gynecological cancer.

Quality of life evaluation in oncological clinical trials - the EORTC model. The EORTC Quality of Life Study Group.

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has taken a leading role in the development of the methodology of quality of life (QL) measurement. In the EORTC Quality of Life Study Group (QLSG) valid instruments to assess QL in a general manner and disease-specific modules have been developed to be used in oncological clinical trials. Statistical and methodological aspects of QL research are discussed.