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Taste, smell and mouthfeel disturbances in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors treated with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors

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Abstract

Context

Taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances are underrated and underreported, but important side effects of anti-cancer medication. These symptoms are associated with a lower quality of life (QoL). The prevalence and the impact of taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances on daily life in patients with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) are largely unknown.

Objectives

This exploratory study assessed the prevalence and type of taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances and their impact on daily life and QoL in patients with a GIST treated with a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI).

Methods

Patients currently treated with TKIs for GIST completed a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire addressed changes in taste, smell, and mouthfeel and, if changes occurred, impact on daily life and QoL. Statistics are descriptive.

Results

A total of 65 GIST patients on TKI treatment completed the questionnaire. Of these patients, 79%, 12%, and 9% currently used imatinib, sunitinib, and regorafenib respectively. Taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances were reported by 25 (38%), 15 (23%), and 36 (55%) patients respectively. Salty and sweet tastes were mostly affected, respectively in 14 and 13 patients. A dry mouth was experienced by 29 (45%) patients. Taste disturbances were more often reported to have impact on daily life and QoL (80% and 60%) than smell (47% and 31%) and mouthfeel disturbances (47% and 30%).

Conclusion

Taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances are frequent side effects of TKIs in GIST patients. Daily life and QoL are affected in a considerable number of those patients.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NL7827 (2019–06-25).

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Funding

JVE was supported by the Junior Scientific Masterclass Groningen program of the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands

    Jip M. van Elst, Anna K. L. Reyners & Jacco J. de Haan

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Nikki S. IJzerman & Ron H. J. Mathijssen

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Nikki S. IJzerman & Neeltje Steeghs

Authors
  1. Jip M. van Elst
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  2. Nikki S. IJzerman
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  3. Ron H. J. Mathijssen
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  4. Neeltje Steeghs
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  5. Anna K. L. Reyners
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  6. Jacco J. de Haan
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Contributions

J.M. van Elst, A.K.L. Reyners, and J.J. de Haan contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by J.M. van Elst and N.S. IJzerman. Analysis was done by J.M van Elst. The first draft of the manuscript was written by J.M. van Elst and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacco J. de Haan.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

The questionnaire and methodology for this study was approved by the Human Research Ethics committee of the UMCG, NKI, EMC (Ethics approval number: UMCG: METc 2019/360, NKI: IRBd19-258, EMC: MEC-2019–0669).

Consent to participate

Verbal informed consent was telephonically obtained prior to the interview.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Cite this article

van Elst, J.M., IJzerman, N.S., Mathijssen, R.H.J. et al. Taste, smell and mouthfeel disturbances in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors treated with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. Support Care Cancer 30, 2307–2315 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06658-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06658-z

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