Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lung resection is the recommended curative treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients considered at high surgical risk, are treated with stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) as a lower morbidity alternative. This study aims to investigate the impact of SABR and VATS resection on patients’ quality of life (QoL) over the first year after treatment.
A prospective longitudinal observational study recruiting early-stage NSCLC patients from a single UK centre. QoL was assessed with EORTC QLQ-C30 and Lung Cancer Module LC13 at baseline, 6 weeks and 3, 6 and 12 months post-treatment.
From 01.03.2017 till 01.03.2018, 244/281 patients (87%) consented to participate, 225 (95 SABR and 130 VATS) were included in the analysis. SABR patients had significantly worse baseline QoL scores than VATS patients, even after adjusting for preoperative clinical factors (C-30 Global Health mean: SABR = 53.8, VATS = 71.2; Physical Functioning mean: SABR = 57, VATS = 82.2; Fatigue mean: SABR = 43.5, VATS = 23.7; C30 Dyspnea mean: SABR = 49.5, VATS = 26.2). During the 12 months post SABR treatment patients’ QoL scores remained stable. In the VATS group, there was a deterioration 6-weeks after treatment in Role, Physical, Social Functions, Global Health, Fatigue, C30/LC13 Dyspnoea, Pain, Appetite loss, Constipation, LC13 Pain in Chest and Arms. The scores improved by 12 months without reaching the preoperative values.
Although QoL outcomes for SABR and VATS are not comparable due to different medical selection criteria, the QoL impact of the two treatments during the first year showed different trends which will inform patients and clinicians during decision-making discussions.
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
About The Expert
Cecilia Pompili
Zoe Rogers
Kate Absolom
Patricia Holch
Beverly Clayton
Matthew Callister
Johnathan Robson
Alessandro Brunelli
Kevin Franks
Galina Velikova
References
PubMed