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Mapping the experiences of people with advanced cancer across multiple cancer types—a scoping review

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Abstract

Background

Through the introduction of tumor agnostic therapies, people with metastatic cancer and their treating physicians are facing new treatment choices that have differing side effect and efficacy profiles from conventional chemotherapy.

Objective

The present study undertakes a scoping review of research into the experiences of people with advanced or metastatic cancer across various solid tumor types with the goal of developing a tumor-agnostic conceptual model.

Design

Automated queries on three internet search engines were performed to identify qualitative interview studies that focused on people with metastatic cancer. No limits were imposed for dates nor location of studies.

Results

Of the 173 hits generated from the searches, 25 peer-reviewed papers were selected for the review with dates that ranged from 2007 to 2022. All papers originated from the USA, Europe, Australia, or Japan. Three major themes emerged that formed the basis for the tumor-agnostic conceptual model: symptoms, loss of autonomy, and adaptation/coping.

Conclusions

The explication of the interplay between the physical and emotional symptoms experienced by those with advanced and metastatic cancer using a multi-tumor approach provides the potential to make generalizations about the needs of this population. An opportunity exists to potentially address these needs through matching patient needs and preferences with the characteristics of novel therapeutics.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

In the era of tumor agnostic therapies, the elicitation of patient preferences across the spectrum of anatomical origins has the potential to enhance shared decision making in the setting of metastatic disease.

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Data availability

All data generated for this study are enclosed within the supplemental materials.

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Funding

This study was supported and funded by the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network, by PREDiCT funded by Roche, by CLEO funded by Genome British Columbia/Genome Canada (G05CHS).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Steve E. Kalloger, Craig Mitton & Dean A. Regier

  2. Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer, Vancouver, Canada

    Steve E. Kalloger & Dean A. Regier

  3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Steve E. Kalloger

  4. Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Cheryl Ho

  5. Department of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer, Vancouver, Canada

    Cheryl Ho

Authors
  1. Steve E. Kalloger
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  2. Cheryl Ho
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  4. Dean A. Regier
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Contributions

SEK and DAR conceived the study and developed the methodology. SEK executed the methodology, performed all analyses, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. DAR, CM, and CH provided critical review of the manuscript prior to submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steve E. Kalloger.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Ethics approval was not required for this study per the University of British Columbia Behavioural Research Ethics Board.

Consent to participate

Not applicable for this study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable for this study.

Conflict of interest

SEK receives a stipend from Roche and consulting fees from Vancouver Coastal Health. Neither are related to the submitted work. DAR received grant funding from Genome Canada/Genome BC, personal fees from Roche and AstraZeneca and reported receiving grants from Roche outside the submitted work. CM declared no competing interest. CH declared receiving grants from AstraZeneca, EMD Serono, and Roche and reported receiving personal fees from AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, EMD Serono, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and Takeda outside the submitted work.

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Kalloger, S.E., Ho, C., Mitton, C. et al. Mapping the experiences of people with advanced cancer across multiple cancer types—a scoping review. J Cancer Surviv 18, 318–324 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-022-01263-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-022-01263-3

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