A comparison of quality-of-life domains and clinical factors in ovarian cancer patients: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study.
BACKGROUND
Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are at risk for reduced quality of life (QOL). It is imperative to further define these declines to interpret treatment outcomes and design appropriate clinical interventions.


OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this study was to compare data obtained from ovarian cancer patients with normative data to assess the degree to which QOL differs from the norm. Secondary objectives were to examine demographic variables and determine if there was a correlation between physical/functional and social/emotional scores during chemotherapy.


METHODS
Patients with Stage III/IV ovarian cancer on Gynecologic Oncology Group Protocols 152 and 172 who underwent surgery followed by intravenous paclitaxel and cisplatin completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovarian. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale includes the four domains of physical, functional, social, and emotional well-being (PWB, FWB, SWB, and EWB, respectively).


RESULTS
Ovarian cancer patients had a total QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General) score similar to the U.S. female adult population. However, the reported subscale scores were 2.0 points (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-2.5, P<0.001, effect size=0.37) lower in PWB, 0.9 points (95% CI 0.3-1.5, P=0.005, effect size=0.13) lower in FWB, 5.0 points (95% CI 4.6-5.3, P<0.001, effect size=0.74) higher in SWB, and 0.8 points (95% CI 0.3-1.2, P<0.001, effect size=0.16) lower in EWB. Correlation between the sum of PWB and FWB and the sum of SWB and EWB was r=0.53 (P<0.001). Age was positively correlated with EWB (r=0.193; 95% CI 0.09-0.29).


CONCLUSIONS
Ovarian cancer patients have decreased QOL in physical, functional, and emotional domains; however, they may compensate with increased social support. At the time of diagnosis and treatment, patients' QOL is affected by inherent characteristics. Assessment of treatment outcomes should take into account the effect of these independent variables.
von Gruenigen
Vivian E
VE
Department of Reproductive Biology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA. vongruev@summahealth.org
Huang
Helen Q
HQ
Gil
Karen M
KM
Gibbons
Heidi E
HE
Monk
Bradley J
BJ
Rose
Peter G
PG
Armstrong
Deborah K
DK
Cella
David
D
Wenzel
Lari
L
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018579:Patient Selection; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin
J Clin Oncol. 2001 Mar 15;19(6):1809-17
11251013
Value Health. 1999 Jul-Aug;2(4):308-18
16674321
Med Care. 2002 Jun;40(6 Suppl):III39-53
12064757
N Engl J Med. 2004 Dec 9;351(24):2489-97
15590951
Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2007 May 17;5:25
17509145
Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2003 Oct;83 Suppl 1:211-29
14763177
J Clin Oncol. 2005 Aug 20;23(24):5605-12
16110020
CA Cancer J Clin. 2008 Jan-Feb;58(1):60-4
18083916
Qual Life Res. 2004 May;13(4):717-23
15129882
Eval Health Prof. 2005 Jun;28(2):192-211
15851773
J Clin Oncol. 2007 Feb 1;25(4):437-43
17264340
Psychooncology. 2002 Mar-Apr;11(2):142-53
11921330
N Engl J Med. 2006 Jan 5;354(1):34-43
16394300
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006 Jul 1;65(3):830-5
16564646
Qual Life Res. 1996 Jun;5(3):321-9
8763800
J Clin Oncol. 1993 Mar;11(3):570-9
8445433
Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2003 Dec 16;1:79
14678568
Eval Health Prof. 2005 Jun;28(2):172-91
15851772
Acta Oncol. 2004;43(2):153-60
15163163
Cancer. 2009 Oct 15;115(20):4857-64
19691091
Qual Life Res. 2002 May;11(3):207-21
12074259