title: Quality-of-life findings from a randomised phase-III study of XELOX vs FOLFOX-6 in metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A phase-III trial showed the non-inferiority of oral capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) vs 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX-6) in terms of efficacy in first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. A secondary objective was to compare the quality of life (QoL) and health-care satisfaction of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomised to receive XELOX (n=156) or FOLFOX-6 (n=150) for 6 months. Quality of life and satisfaction were assessed by the Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (QLQ-C30) and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Chemotherapy Convenience and Satisfaction Questionnaire (FACIT-CCSQ), respectively. Patients completed questionnaires at baseline, at Cycle3 (C3) and Cycle (C6) (XELOX) or at C4 and C8 visits (FOLFOX-6) and at their final visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 245 and 225 patients were assessed using QLQ-C30 and FACIT-CCSQ, respectively. The completion rates were >80%. Global QoL scores did not differ significantly between groups during the study. According to FACIT-CCSQ, XELOX seemed more convenient (C3/C4, P<0.001; C6/C8, P=0.009) and satisfactory to patients (C6/C8, P=0.003) than FOLFOX-6. At the final visit, XELOX patients spent fewer days on hospital visits (3.3 vs 5.3 days, P=0.045) and lost fewer hours of work/daily activities (10.2 vs 37.1 h lost, P=0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  XELOX has a similar QoL profile, but seemed to be more convenient in terms of administration at certain time points and reduced time lost for work or other activities compared with FOLFOX-6.
authors.affiliation: Centre Alexis Vautrin and Nancy University, EA 4360, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy 54511, France. t.conroy@nancy.fnclcc.fr
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hebbar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bennouna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ducreux
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ychou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Llédo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adenis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Faroux
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rebischung
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kockler
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Douillard
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000556:secondary*; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010071:Oxaloacetates; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D010071:Oxaloacetates; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil