Quality of life in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma participating in a phase I trial of an autologous tumor-derived vaccine.
BACKGROUND
We prospectively examined quality of life (QOL) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nephrectomy followed by heat shock protein peptide complex 96 (HSPPC-96) vaccine, a nontoxic, active, specific immunotherapy.


METHODS
QOL and intrusive thoughts were measured in 36 patients with newly diagnosed stage IV renal cell carcinoma at the start of treatment, 3 weeks later on the final day of treatment, and at follow-up 1 month later. At each assessment, patients completed the RAND 36-Item Health Survey and the Impact of Event Scale (IES).


RESULTS
Mixed model analyses revealed a significant improvement over time in the Physical Component Summary score (p < 0.0001) and no significant change over time in the Mental Component Summary score or the IES scores. In comparisons with other populations, at the 1-month follow-up assessment, patients reported significantly worse QOL than the general population on the physical dimensions and similar QOL on the psychosocial and emotional dimensions, a similar QOL to that in patients with type II diabetes, and a significantly better QOL on four dimensions than that in patients with congestive heart failure.


CONCLUSIONS
QOL remained stable or improved during treatment with the HSPPC-96 vaccine.
Cohen
Lorenzo
L
Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 243, Houston, TX 77030, USA. lcohen@notes.mdacc.tmc.edu
de Moor
Carl
C
Parker
Patricia A
PA
Amato
Robert J
RJ
D001294:Attitude to Health; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D004522:Educational Status; D004644:Emotions; D004651:Employment; D006304:Health Status; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*
D019496:Cancer Vaccines