Cancer radiothérapie : journal de la Société française de radiothérapie oncologique
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Long-term quality of life in patients with rectal cancer treated with preoperative (chemo)-radiotherapy within a randomized trial.
Few studies have evaluated the quality of life (QoL) of patients with rectal cancer. This report describes the quality of life of French patients who entered the 22921 EORTC trial that investigated the role and place of chemotherapy (CT) added to preoperative radiotherapy (preop-RT). ⋯ The overall quality of life of patients with rectal cancer is quite good 4.6 years after the beginning preoperative treatments. However, adding chemotherapy to preoperative radiotherapy has a negative effect on diarrhoea complaints and some quality of life dimensions.
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In order to perform a clinical trial in oncology, the choice of the primary endpoint is a major concern, not only for sample size calculation but also regarding the clinical meaning of the results which represents treatment utility for patients or public health system. Endpoints could be classified in two categories: "clinical endpoints" including overall survival and health related quality of life (QoL); "biological markers" including, for example, progression free survival (PFS). ⋯ In this context, quality of life constitutes an available and a useful alternative endpoint for trials to ensure treatment benefit in a patient or public health point of view. As quality of life, methodological researches should be pursued to improve scientific robustness for assessments and analyses of progression free survival.
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The combination of radiotherapy and androgen suppression with luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonist is mainly devoted to locally advanced prostate cancer and intermediate or poor risk localized prostate cancer. They are based on phase III randomized trials which have shown that for locally advanced prostate cancer, a four-month complete androgen blockade initiated two months prior radiotherapy and stopped at the completion of radiotherapy increased overall survival in patients with Gleason scores 2-6, meanwhile, an adjuvant long-term androgen suppression (2.5 to three years) improved significantly the overall survival. Complete androgen blockade with a four to six months duration, combined with external irradiation, enhanced the overall survival in patients with intermediate or poor risk localized prostate cancer.
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The goal of localized prostate cancer radiotherapy is to cure patients. The decision-making must integrate the survival but also the quality of life of patients. Some French validated self-reported questionnaires are available to evaluate quality of life. ⋯ Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) seems to better preserve the long-term digestive quality of life in comparison with conformal radiation therapy. Post-prostatectomy could induce more digestive toxicity, such as rectal irritation. The adjunction of hormonotherapy to radiation, the previous medical history of abdominal surgery, the field of radiation and the acute reactions to radiation are the main predictive factors to late toxicity and should be considered in the choice of initial treatment and for the follow-up.