title: Effect of treatment on health-related quality of life in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi's sarcoma: a randomized trial of pegylated-liposomal doxorubicin versus doxorubicin, bleomycin, and vincristine.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether health-related quality of life (HRQL) would be improved in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi's sarcoma treated by pegylated-liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) as compared to those treated by a conventional combination of doxorubicin, bleomycin, and vincristine (ABV). One hundred thirty-three patients received PLD and 125 patients received ABV every 2 weeks with a planned total of 6 cycles. Patients completed a 30-item AIDS-related HRQL questionnaire before beginning treatment (baseline), every 2 weeks while on treatment, and about 21 days after the end of treatment. Twenty-two items, involving nine domains, were analyzable. While on treatment, PLD-treated patients with partial clinical responses achieved statistically significant greater improvement (compared to baseline) in general health than did ABV-treated patients with partial clinical responses (rho = 0.008). By the end of treatment, the overall group of patients receiving PLD showed statistically significant greater improvement in pain and energy/fatigue than did the group receiving ABV (rho = 0.01-0.002). In addition, duration of clinically significant improvement in global QL was longer in the PLD arm.
authors.affiliation: Quality of Life Consulting, 4939 Edendale Court, West Vancouver, BC V7W 3H7, Canada. david_osoba@telus.net
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Osoba
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Northfelt
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Budd
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Himmelberger
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin