Researchers used responses from the CS21 degarelix trial questionnaire to publish mapping algorithms that address the lack of evidence-based information related to health-related quality of life issues in patients with hormone-dependent prostate cancer who are treated with degarelix.
There were 610 patients enrolled in the trial and their health-related quality of life was measured using the Short-form 12-item questionnaire (SF-12) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Researchers estimated patient utility based on the patients’ response to the questionnaires using four published mapping algorithms.
For patients who did not experience prostate-specific antigen progression or an adverse event, the average utility was 0.742, which is similar to previously established utilities for non-progressed prostate cancer states. If prostate-specific antigen progression occurred, utility would decrease between 0.062 and 0.134 depending on the mapping algorithm used. Musculoskeletal events has the greatest impact on patient utility out of all of the adverse events considered for the analysis. Musculoskeletal events led to a decrease in utility ranging between 0.029 and 0.086.
Based on their finding, the researchers indicated that prostate-specific antigen progression status and the occurrence of treatment- and disease-related adverse events result in a significant impact on a patient’s health-related quality of life. Degarelix can slow PSA progression which may improve the patients burden associated with health-related quality of life and utility.
Researchers addressed lack of evidence-based information related to quality of life issues in prostate cancer.
In this study, authors have used responses to questionnaires included in the CS21 degarelix trial and published mapping algorithms to address the paucity of evidence for health–related quality of life (HRQL) for patients with advanced hormone–dependent prostate cancer treated with degarelix.
PSA progression status and the incidence of treatment– and disease–related adverse events result in significant decrements to patient HRQL. By slowing PSA progression, degarelix may improve patient utility and the HRQL burden.