Taste alterations in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a neglected side effect?
BACKGROUND
Taste alterations (TAs) are a frequent but under-recognized treatment side effect in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (CT). CT regimens with different toxicity profiles may vary in their impact on TAs, but research on this topic is lacking. This study assesses the prevalence of TAs and their relation to sociodemographic and clinical variables, especially CT regimens. Furthermore, the association between TAs and quality of life (QOL) is investigated.


METHODS
TAs and QOL data were collected longitudinally in 197 cancer patients (lung cancer, 54.3%; pancreatic cancer, 19.3%; colorectal cancer, 26.4%; age, 65.2 +/-10.4 years; male, 57.4%) who were receiving CT at the Department of Internal Medicine at Kufstein County Hospital, giving rise to a total of 1,024 assessment times. Patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 questionnaire and two additional questions taken from the EORTC item bank concerning TAs. Statistical analyses were performed using mixed-effect models.


RESULTS
The study showed that the prevalence of TAs in chemotherapy patients is alarmingly high (69.9%). There were clear differences in TA scores among treatment groups: patients receiving irinotecan reported significantly more TAs than patients in other treatment groups; patients receiving a combination of gemcitabine and a platinum agent reported the lowest TAs. Additionally, significant associations between TAs and several QOL dimensions were found, especially with appetite loss and fatigue.


CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of TAs and their impact on QOL in CT patients underscore the urgent need for increased attention to this side effect, both in research and in clinical practice.
Zabernigg
August
A
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Gamper
Eva-Maria
EM
Giesinger
Johannes M
JM
Rumpold
Gerhard
G
Kemmler
Georg
G
Gattringer
Klaus
K
Sperner-Unterweger
Barbara
B
Holzner
Bernhard
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents