In Patients With RCC Receiving TKIs, HAMSIQ Questionnaire Feasible in Measuring Symptoms

The Hand-Foot and Mucositic Symptom and Impact Questionnaire (HAMSIQ) may be a valid and feasible instrument to assess for the impact of hand-foot syndrome and mucositis in patients with renal cell carcinoma who are receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), according to a recent study published online ahead of print in Cancer.¹

Researchers led by Jin-Shei Lai, PhD, of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL, administered the HAMSIQ to 169 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma as part of the Patient Preference Study of Pazopanib vs Sunitinib in Advanced or Metastatic Kidney Cancer (PISCES) study.

The questionnaire was given at baseline as well as every 2 weeks over two 10-week periods to patients receiving pazopanib or suntinib to assess for mouth/throat and hand/foot soreness symptoms in these patients. At least 85% of patients included in the study completed the HAMSIQ.

The researchers found that correlations among items within the same limitation subscale were generally high, and limitation scores were able to differentiate patients according to baseline performance status and severity of soreness. The HAMSIQ showed responsiveness to changes in clinical status as well as development of hand-foot syndrome adverse events over time.

Additionally, they also observed small-to-moderate correlations in symptoms/limitation scores and changes from baseline scores between the HAMSIQ and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy fatigue survey.

Reference

1. Lai J, Beaumot JL, Diaz J, et al. Validation of a short questionnaire to measure symptoms and functional limitations associated with hand-foot syndrome and mucositis in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Cancer. [published online ahead of print October 12, 2015]. doi: 10.1002/cncr.29655.