Purpose: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in patients with metastatic somatostatin receptor positive gastroenteropancreatic tumors treated with [(177)Lu-DOTA(0),Tyr(3)]octreotate ((177)Lu-octreotate) therapy.
Patients and methods: Fifty patients who had been treated with 600 to 800 mCi of (177)Lu-octreotate and had a follow-up of at least 3 months were studied. The patients completed the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 before therapy and at follow-up visit 6 weeks after the last cycle. Overall QoL and specific QoL domains of both the total group of patients and subgroups according to treatment outcome were analyzed. Twenty-four patients had regression, 19 had stable disease, six had progressive disease, and one had nonassessable disease status. Analysis of variance was used for statistical comparison.
Results: A significant improvement in the global health status/QoL scale was observed after therapy with (177)Lu-octreotate (P <.01). The score increased significantly six weeks after therapy to a mean of 78.2, up from 69.0 (scale range, 0 to 100). Furthermore, significant improvement was observed in the role, emotional, and social function scales. The symptom scores for fatigue, insomnia, and pain were significantly decreased. Patients with proven tumor regression most frequently had an improvement of QoL domains. Unexpectedly, patients with progressive disease also indicated an improvement in their global health/QoL score.
Conclusion: (177)Lu-octreotate therapy significantly improved the global health/QoL and several function and symptom scales in patients with metastasized gastroenteropancreatic tumors, but especially in those patients with proven tumor regression.