title: Treatment-related optimism protects quality of life in a phase II clinical trial for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients on clinical trials often experience declining quality of life (QOL). Little is known about the psychosocial variables that buffer against decline.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to examine correlations between psychosocial variables and QOL over the course of a clinical trial in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  At baseline, 114 participants completed measures of treatment-related optimism, social support, and QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General). QOL was also assessed 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the start of treatment with low-dose or intermediate-dose interferon.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QOL decreased significantly in the intermediate-dose group but not in the low-dose group (p < .01). The decline was less severe for patients who had high rather than low treatment optimism (p = .03). A higher level of social support was significantly associated with higher baseline QOL (p < .05) but a more rapid decline in QOL over time (p < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment optimism was favorably associated with QOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA. kmilbury@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Milbury
authors.forename: Nizar M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Tannir
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000556:secondary; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000556:secondary; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins