Associations of symptom burden with patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and clinical outcomes among early phase cancer clinical trial (EP-CT) participants.

Authors

Anh Lam

Anh B. Lam

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Anh B. Lam , Debra Lundquist , Andrea Pelletier , Sienna Durbin , Laura A Petrillo , Rachel Jimenez , Victoria Turbini , Viola Bame , Kaitlyn Lynch , Mary Catherine Boulanger , Cynthia Moore , Vaishnavi Yalala , Nicholas Ollila , Benjamin Malowitz , Casandra McIntyre , Dejan Juric , Ryan David Nipp

Organizations

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, Henri and Belinda Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK

Research Funding

No funding received

Background: Individuals with cancer often endure a substantial physical and psychological symptom burden. However, little is known about the baseline symptom burden of patients with cancer participating in EP-CTs or the associations of this symptom burden with other PROs and clinical outcomes. Methods: We prospectively enrolled adults with cancer participating in EP-CTs at Massachusetts General Hospital from 4/2021-1/2023. Participants completed baseline surveys prior to EP-CT initiation that assessed symptoms (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System [ESAS]), quality of life (QOL; Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General), hope (Herth Hope Index), depression/anxiety symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-4 [PHQ-4]), and financial wellbeing (COST tool, higher scores indicate greater financial wellbeing). We used regression models to explore associations of baseline symptom burden with other PROs (QOL, hope, depression/anxiety, financial wellbeing) and clinical outcomes (time on trial, hospitalizations, overall survival). Results: Among 205 participants (median age=63.3 [range: 31.8-88.6], 57.1% female), the most common cancer types were gastrointestinal (34.6%), breast (20.0%), and head and neck (10.2%). Based on the ESAS, approximately half of participants reported moderate/severe fatigue (50.2%) and poor wellbeing (49.5%). Under half reported moderate/severe drowsiness (35.7%), pain (25.9%), lack of appetite (25.4%), shortness of breath (20.0%), anxiety (18.0%), depression (15.4%), and nausea (9.2%). Higher baseline ESAS total, physical, and psychological scores were associated with worse QOL, lower hope, greater PHQ-4 depression/anxiety symptoms, and worse financial wellbeing (see Table). Higher baseline ESAS scores were associated with decreased time on trial and worse overall survival (see Table). Conclusions: In this study of EP-CT participants, we found associations of baseline symptom burden with other important PROs and clinical outcomes. Specifically, higher baseline symptom burden was associated with decreased QOL, lower hope, increased depression/anxiety symptoms, and diminished financial wellbeing as well as greater risk for shorter time on trial and worse survival. Interventions seeking to enhance care delivery and outcomes for EP-CT participants should strive to address the symptom burden of this population.

OutcomesESAS TotalESAS PhysicalESAS Psychological
PROsBetaPBetaPBetaP
QOL-0.55<0.001-0.68<0.001-1.93<0.001
Hope-0.10<0.001-0.09<0.001-0.53<0.001
PHQ-4 Depression/Anxiety0.06<0.0010.06<0.0010.39<0.001
Financial Wellbeing-0.130.003-0.160.009-0.360.032
Clinical OutcomesHRPHRPHRP
Hospitalizations1.010.0661.020.0591.030.290
Time on Trial1.010.0691.010.2081.040.046
Overall Survival1.02<0.0011.03<0.0011.040.088

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2024 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A

Track

Quality, Safety, and Implementation Science,Cost, Value, and Policy,Patient Experience,Palliative and Supportive Care

Sub Track

Integrating Patient Experience Assessment and Patient Reported Outcomes Into Practice

Citation

JCO Oncol Pract 20, 2024 (suppl 10; abstr 244)

DOI

10.1200/OP.2024.20.10_suppl.244

Abstract #

244

Poster Bd #

D14

Abstract Disclosures

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