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TOGA: Addition of trastuzumab to therapy did not affect QoL in gastric cancer
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2010 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium
A quality-of-life survey conducted among patients in the phase-3 ToGA trial showed that the addition of trastuzumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody against HER2, to standard chemotherapy improved survival with no additional impact on quality of life.
Results from ToGA, presented at the 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting, showed that trastuzumab (Herceptin, Genentech) in combination with the 5-FU or capecitabine plus cisplatin (XP/FP) regimen improved OS from 11.1 months to 13.8 months compared with XP/FP alone in patients with HER2-positive advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer.
Taroh Satoh, MD, professor of medicine with the department of medical oncology at Kinki University School of Medicine in Osaka, Japan, presented quality-of-life data from the trial during the 2010 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. He said cognitive function scores remained similar between the two arms throughout the treatment phase; in addition, physical, role, emotional, cognitive and social scores improved following treatment.
“Trastuzumab improved OS and PFS without compromising quality-of-life,” Satoh said. “Looking at the results of this trial, we have taken an important step toward improved efficacy and quality-of-life in treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.”
A total of 563 of 584 patients in the trial completed quality-of-life questionnaires. Researchers found that Global Health Status improved in both groups during chemotherapy: 55 to 64 to 72 for trastuzumab plus XP/FP and 55 to 61 to 71 for XP/FP alone. Disease-specific scores for dysphagia, anxiety, reflux and eating restrictions decreased in both arms following the first cycle of treatment. Scores for dry mouth, taste, body image and hair loss decreased at the end of treatment. – by Jason Harris
For more information:
- Satoh T. #7. Presented at: the 2010 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium; Jan 22-24, 2010; Orlando, Fla.
