Quality of life assessment and reporting in colorectal cancer: A systematic review of phase III trials published between 2012 and 2018

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2020 Feb:146:102877. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.102877. Epub 2020 Jan 18.

Abstract

Background: In this study, our aim was to describe quality of life (QoL) prevalence and heterogeneity in QoL reporting in colorectal cancer phase III trials.

Methods: We included all phase III trials evaluating anticancer drugs in colorectal cancer patients published between 2012 and 2018 by 11 major journals.

Results: Out of the 67 publications identified, in 41 (61.2 %) QoL was not listed among endpoints. Out of 26 primary publications of trials including QoL among endpoints, QoL results were not reported in 10 (38.5 %). Overall, no QoL data were available in 51/67 (76.1 %) primary publications. In particular, in the metastatic setting, QoL data were not available in 12/18 (66.7 %) trials with primary endpoint overall survival, and in 20/29 (69.0 %) trials with other primary endpoints.

Conclusions: QoL was absent in a high proportion of recently published phase III trials in colorectal cancer, even in trials of second or further lines, where attention to QoL should be particularly high.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Endpoints; Health-related quality of life; Patient-reported outcomes; Randomized controlled trials.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Patient Reported Outcome Measures
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents