title: Patient-reported outcomes for axitinib vs sorafenib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: phase III (AXIS) trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Axitinib demonstrated greater progression-free survival vs sorafenib in a phase III study of previously treated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Here, we report patient-reported kidney-specific symptoms and health status, measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) Kidney Cancer Symptom Index (FKSI) and the European Quality of Life self-report questionnaire (EQ-5D).
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 723 patients received axitinib (starting dose 5 mg twice daily (b.i.d.)) or sorafenib (400 mg b.i.d.). The FKSI-15, including the disease-related symptoms (FKSI-DRS) subscale, was administered on day 1 before dosing, every 4 weeks and at end of treatment (EOT)/withdrawal. Statistical methods included a mixed-effects repeated-measures model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, patients in both arms had relatively high mean FSKI-15 and FKSI-DRS scores, comparable to the general US population. Subsequent on-treatment overall mean scores were similar between axitinib and sorafenib, and there was no substantial decline during treatment. Scores substantially worsened at EOT, mainly due to disease progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient-reported outcomes were comparable for second-line axitinib and sorafenib and were maintained at relatively high levels while on treatment, but worsened at EOT. As duration of treatment was longer with axitinib than sorafenib, time to worsening of symptoms can be delayed longer with axitinib.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 633 N. St, Clair - 19th Floor Chicago, IL 60611, USA. d-cella@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Escudier
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tarazi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosbrook
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Motzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077784:Axitinib; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007191:Indazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057566:Self Report; D000077157:Sorafenib; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D007191:Indazoles; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib; D000077784:Axitinib