title: Symptomatic toxicities experienced during anticancer treatment: agreement between patient and physician reporting in three randomized trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Information about symptomatic toxicities of anticancer treatments is not based on direct report by patients, but rather on reports by clinicians in trials. Given the potential for under-reporting, our aim was to compare reporting by patients and physicians of six toxicities (anorexia, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and hair loss) within three randomized trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  In one trial, elderly patients with breast cancer received adjuvant chemotherapy; in two trials, patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer received first-line treatment. Toxicity was prospectively collected by investigators (graded by National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria [version 2.0] or Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [version 3]). At the end of each cycle, patients completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaires, including toxicity-related symptom items. Possible answers were "not at all," "a little," "quite a bit," and "very much." Analysis was limited to the first three cycles. For each toxicity, agreement between patients and physicians and under-reporting by physicians (ie, toxicity reported by patients but not reported by physicians) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1,090 patients (2,482 cycles) were included. Agreement between patients and physicians was low for all toxicities. Toxicity rates reported by physicians were always lower than those reported by patients. For patients who reported toxicity (any severity), under-reporting by physicians ranged from 40.7% to 74.4%. Examining only patients who reported "very much" toxicity, under-reporting by physicians ranged from 13.0% to 50.0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjective toxicities are at high risk of under-reporting by physicians, even when prospectively collected within randomized trials. This strongly supports the incorporation of patient-reported outcomes into toxicity reporting in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Maio
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Natasha B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Leighl
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Maria Carmela
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Piccirillo
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Daniele
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nuzzo
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gridelli
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gebbia
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciardiello
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Sabino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Placido
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ceribelli
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Adolfo G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Favaretto
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Matteis
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feld
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Butts
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryce
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Signoriello
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rocco
authors.affiliation: Massimo Di Maio, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Nuzzo, Andrea de Matteis, Jane Bryce, Alessandro Morabito, Gaetano Rocco, and Francesco Perrone, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione "G. Pascale" Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; Ciro Gallo, Fortunato Ciardiello, and Simona Signoriello, Second University; Sabino De Placido, Federico II University, Napoli; Cesare Gridelli, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino; Vittorio Gebbia, Istituto La Maddalena, Palermo; Anna Ceribelli, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Roma; Adolfo G. Favaretto, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy; Natasha B. Leighl and Ronald Feld, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto; and Charles Butts, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. f.perrone@istitutotumori.na.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perrone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007039:Hypotrichosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010358:Patient Participation; D010820:Physicians; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents