title: FCR front-line therapy and quality of life in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: The chemoimmunotherapy FCR (fludarabine and cyclophosphamide with rituximab) is the standard first-line treatment for physically fit chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. To assess the risks and benefits, we investigated health-related quality of life (HRQOL). 817 untreated CLL patients received either FC or FCR within the GCLLSG CLL8 trial. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire C30 was sent to all patients at baseline, after 3, 6, and 12 months and then yearly as follow-up. A total of 769 (94%) of 817 patients completed at least one questionnaire. Comparing HRQOL of CLL patients with the general German population, CLL patients' health declined in most scales except for global health and pain. No major differences in HRQOL were found during treatment or follow-up between both treatment arms. Females were more likely to have treatment-related symptoms than males. Although FCR was associated with more side effects, this did not influence HRQOL. During follow-up after FCR only minor improvement of HRQOL compared with FC was assessed.
authors.affiliation: a Department I of Internal Medicine and Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne Bonn , University Hospital of Cologne , Cologne , Germany.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kutsch
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology , Technical University , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Raymonde
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.affiliation: a Department I of Internal Medicine and Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne Bonn , University Hospital of Cologne , Cologne , Germany.
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bahlo
authors.affiliation: c Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology , University Hospital Brno , Brno , Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: d Internal Medicine V , University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hensel
authors.affiliation: e Department of Internal Medicine I, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hopfinger
authors.affiliation: f Department of Hematology and Oncology , Johannes Gutenberg-Universitat , Mainz , Germany.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.affiliation: g Praxis fur Hamatologie und Onkologie , Cottbus , Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: von Grünhagen
authors.affiliation: a Department I of Internal Medicine and Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne Bonn , University Hospital of Cologne , Cologne , Germany.|h Department of Hematology, Oncology, Immunology, Palliative Care, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine , Klinikum Schwabing , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Clemens-Martin
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wendtner
authors.affiliation: a Department I of Internal Medicine and Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne Bonn , University Hospital of Cologne , Cologne , Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maria Fink
authors.affiliation: a Department I of Internal Medicine and Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne Bonn , University Hospital of Cologne , Cologne , Germany.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: a Department I of Internal Medicine and Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne Bonn , University Hospital of Cologne , Cologne , Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallek
authors.affiliation: a Department I of Internal Medicine and Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne Bonn , University Hospital of Cologne , Cologne , Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eichhorst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D000069283:Rituximab; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine
keywords: CLL; Chemoimmunotherapy; FCR; HRQOL; quality of life