title: Review of health-related quality of life data in multiple myeloma patients treated with novel agents.
abstract: In multiple myeloma (MM), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data is becoming increasingly important, owing to improved survival outcomes and the impact of treatment-related toxicity on HRQoL. Researchers are more frequently including HRQoL assessments in clinical trials, but analysis and reporting of this data has not been consistent. A systematic literature review assessed the effect of novel agents (thalidomide, bortezomib and lenalidomide) on HRQoL in MM patients, and evaluated the subsequent reporting of these HRQoL results. A relatively small body of literature addresses HRQoL data in MM patients treated with novel MM therapeutic agents: 9 manuscripts and 15 conference proceedings. The literature demonstrates the complementary value of HRQoL when assessing clinical response, progression, overall survival and toxicity. However, weaknesses and inconsistencies in analysis and presentation of HRQoL data were observed, often complicating interpretation of the impact of treatment on HRQoL in MM. Further evaluation of HRQoL in MM patients treated with novel agents is required in larger cohorts, and ideally in head-to-head comparative studies. Additionally, the development of standardised MM-specific best practice guidelines in HRQoL data collection and analysis is recommended. These would ensure that future data are more useful in guiding predictive models and clinical decisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sonneveld
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Verelst
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gray-Schopfer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hutchings
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nixon
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Petrucci
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents