Abstract
Aim: To compare Quality of Life (QL) in patients with metastatic testicular cancer (TC) receiving 3 or 4 cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy (BEP), given over 3 or 5 days.
Methods: QL was prospectively evaluated before chemotherapy and at 3 and 12 months in 666 patients receiving one of 4 different equally dosed BEP schedules (4 cycles/5 days [standard]; 4 cycles/3 days; 3 cycles/5 days; 3 cycles/3 days). The EORTC QLQ-C30 was used together with a specific TC module.
Results: The 3 day schedule lead to increased toxicity at three months, which was “clinically” significant (see below) for nausea/vomiting and tinnitus if each of 4 cycles was given over 3 days. At one year, no schedule-related difference was detectable except for tinnitus, which was worst after 4 cycles/3 days. Ototoxicity, peripheral neuropathy and Raynaud’s phenomena remained a clinical problem. Compared to baseline QL had slightly improved.
Conclusion: The 5 days BEP schedule is preferable if 4 cycles are planned to avoid excessive short-term and 1 year subjective toxicity.
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Fosså, S.D., Collette, L., Aaronson, N., de Wit, R., Roberts, J.T., EORTC GU Group and the MRC Testicular Cancer Working Party. (2002). Quality of Life in Patients with Good Prognosis Metastatic Germ Cell Tumours: Comparison of Four Chemotherapy Schedules (EORTC 30941/MRC TE20). In: Harnden, P., Joffe, J.K., Jones, W.G. (eds) Germ Cell Tumours V. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3281-3_42
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3281-3_42
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