Self-reported health-related quality of life predicts survival for patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with first-line chemotherapy

Purpose: To determine whether patients' self-reported quality-of-life (QOL) parameters could predict survival for patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) treated with first-line chemotherapy, we performed this analysis based on the data obtained from 254 patients enrolled in three consecutive prospective randomized trials at a single institution. Methods: Consenting patients with AGC received first-line chemotherapy as specified in the protocols. QOL was assessed at baseline using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 questionnaires. Baseline univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on the QOL data and the recognized clinical predictors for survival. Results: Of 254 patients, 164 completed the QOL questionnaire at baseline. All patients received fluorouracil-containing first-line chemotherapy for AGC. With 88% observed deaths and a reported median survival of 9.5 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.8-10.2 months], there were no significant differences in survival between patients with or without QOL data. The final Cox multivariate model revealed four prognostic factors: age [hazard ratio (HR) 2.08, 95% CI 1.32-3.33, P = 0.002], bone metastasis (HR 2.70, 95% CI 1.30-5.56, P = 0.008), hemoglobin (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37-0.92, P = 0.020), and social functioning (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.23-0.64, P = 0.001). When adjusting for clinical parameters, social functioning was an independently significant prognostic factor for longer survival. Conclusion: Baseline social functioning, along with age, presence of bone metastasis, and baseline hemoglobin level, independently predicts survival of AGC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy. QOL assessment should be routinely included to provide useful prognostic information concerning AGC patients.