title: Quality of life during chemotherapy in patients with symptomatic advanced colorectal cancer. The Nordic Gastrointestinal Tumor Adjuvant Therapy Group.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To increase the knowledge about the palliative effects of chemotherapy in patients with symptomatic advanced colorectal cancer, physician- and patient-rated "quality of life" was studied in a randomized multicenter trial comparing a regimen of methotrexate/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) followed by leucovorin rescue (MFL) with a regimen of 5-FU/leucovorin (FLV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1989 and December 1990, 70 patients completed a quality of life questionnaire at randomization and after every fourth treatment course. At one of the hospitals, the evaluation was done as an interview (interview group, n = 24), whereas a questionnaire was used at the other hospitals (questionnaire group, n = 46).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Objective responses (complete response plus partial response) were obtained in 15 (21%) patients, subjective responses in 29 (41%) patients, and an overall improved quality of life in 25 (36%) patients. In addition, 16 (23%) patients had unchanged quality of life during at least 4 months. There was a correlation between objective responses, subjective responses, and improvements in quality of life, although discrepancies were noticed, particularly in patients with only slight symptoms. Response rates were higher in the interview group than in the questionnaire group (P < 0.01). This difference could be related to a more favorable outcome when 5-FU was given as a bolus injection, rather than as a short-term infusion (more than 5 minutes).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvements or prolonged stabilization of disease in quality of life can be achieved in at least half of the patients with tumor-related symptoms. However, factors related to the administration of chemotherapy may influence this proportion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Akademiska Sjukhuset, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glimelius
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Påhlman
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Sjödén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate