Quality of life and survival in patients treated with radical chemoradiation alone for oesophageal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To report cancer-specific and health-related quality-of-life outcomes in patients undergoing radical chemoradiation (CRT) alone for oesophageal cancer.


METHODS
Between 1998 and 2005, 56 patients with oesophageal cancer received definitive radical CRT, due to local disease extent, poor general health, or patient choice. Data from European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaires QLQ-30 and QLQ-OES24 were collected prospectively. Questionnaires were completed at diagnosis, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after CRT where applicable.


RESULTS
The median follow-up was 18 months. The median overall survival was 14 months, with a 51, 26 and 13% 1-, 3- and 5-year survival, respectively. At 12 months after treatment there was a significant improvement compared with before treatment with respect to dysphagia and pain. Global health scores were not significantly affected.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the relatively short long-term survival for this cohort of patients, maximising the quality of those final months should be very carefully borne in mind from the outset. The health-related quality-of-life data reported herein helps to establish benchmarks for larger evaluation within randomised clinical trials.
Gillham
C M
CM
Academic Unit of Clinical and Molecular Oncology, Trinity Centre, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. charles.gillham@slh.ie
Aherne
N
N
Rowley
S
S
Moore
J
J
Hollywood
D
D
O'Byrne
K
K
Reynolds
J V
JV
D000368:Aged; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome