Quality of life evaluation by the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire in patients treated with hormonal treatment in Italy. A QuABIOS group study.
OBJECTIVE
An observational study was planned by the QuABIOS group, to survey the hormonal treatment administered to prostate cancer patients in Italy within a time window of 12 months. We report here a prospective quality of life (QOL) evaluation over time and by hormonal treatment modalities.


METHODS
Patients with diagnosis of prostate cancer and treated with hormonal therapy were eligible for this study. The EORTC QLQ-C30 v.3 questionnaire was administered at enrolment, after 6 months and after 12 months from enrolment.


RESULTS
587 patients were enrolled by 33 urological centers. When 1518 visits were considered together independently of time, antiandrogen monotherapy was associated with a significantly better QOL than LHRH-analogue containing treatment modalities in almost all functional scales; cyproterone acetate demonstrated a better physical function and general health status than bicalutamide. When QOL was analyzed in a prospective 12-month window, a worsening of physical function and general health status was observed, notwithstanding, antiandrogens remained significantly associated to a better QOL than LHRH-analogue therapies also over time: a favourable physical function and general health status appeared again to be related to cyproterone acetate than bicalutamide.


CONCLUSIONS
Androgen deprivation therapy is associated with decline in QOL, particularly in the domains of physical function, energy, and general health status. This survey demonstrated that antiandrogens had a better QOL profile than LHRH-analogue containing therapies;furthermore, a more favourable tolerability for cyproterone acetate as compared to bicalutamide is suggested.
Policlinico Universitario Federico II, Napoli, Italy. dprezioso@libero.it
Domenico
D
Prezioso
Riccardo
R
Bartoletti
Massimo
M
Cecchi
Virgilio
V
Cicalese
Sergio Cosciani
SC
Cunico
Rocco
R
Damiano
Antonello
A
De Lisa
Nicola
N
Franzolin
Bruno
B
Frea
Giorgio
G
Guazzoni
Ettore
E
Mearini
Giuseppe
G
Morgia
Giovanni
G
Muzzonigro
Gaetano
G
Oliva
Fausto
F
Orestano
Arcangelo
A
Pagliarulo
Giovanni L
GL
Pappagallo
Paolo
P
Parma
Massimo
M
Perachino
Paolo
P
Pompa
Francesco
F
Rocco
Filiberto
F
Zattoni
D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone