Adapting the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS) to mesothelioma: using the LCSS-Meso conceptual model for validation.
BACKGROUND
The underpinning conceptual model for the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS), an instrument used to assess health-related quality of life in patients with lung cancer, has been described elsewhere. The patient-rated scale of the LCSS was modified slightly for patients with mesothelioma (LCSS-Meso), because no other mesothelioma-specific instrument was available.


METHODS
In the current methodologic study, the authors tested the conceptual model for the LCSS-Meso. Chemotherapy-naive patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma who were participating in two clinical trials of pemetrexed (ALIMTA; Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, IN) completed the scale twice before the start of therapy and once weekly during the trials. Three time points were analyzed: baseline, Day 40, and Day 82. Poisson regression was used to determine the contribution of predictive factors (i.e., symptoms) to the summary items (symptom distress, activity level, and global quality of life).


RESULTS
The model was tested in 495 patients who had malignant pleural mesothelioma. More than 85% of patients reported pain, dyspnea, fatigue, and appetite loss. Pain, dyspnea, and fatigue were significant and stable predictors for all summary items; however, pain had a significant effect on global quality of life only through Day 40. Appetite loss was a significant and stable predictor of activity level and global quality of life. The explained variance for the model was 39-55%.


CONCLUSIONS
Further support for the content validity of the LCSS-Meso was obtained, as nearly all patients validated that the symptoms described in the scale captured their disease experience. The only exception was the hemoptysis item, which was removed based on the current large normative data set. Support for the construct validity of the LCSS-Meso also was obtained. For both mesothelioma and lung cancer, the majority of factors within the LCSS model are relevant and have the expected amount of variability. These findings support the use of the LCSS as a sensitive instrument for serial measurement during clinical trials involving patients with lung malignancies.
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. p.hollen@virginia.edu
Patricia J
PJ
Hollen
Richard J
RJ
Gralla
Astra M
AM
Liepa
James T
JT
Symanowski
James J
JJ
Rusthoven
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019452:Terminally Ill; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine