Quality of life assessment in testicular non-seminomatous germ cell tumour survivors

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Patients with Germ cell tumours (GCT) are at risk of long-term toxicities due to multimodality therapy. It is debatable whether there is an impact on the quality of life(QoL) of GCT survivors. Methods: A case-control study was conducted at a tertiary care centre in India, using the EORTC QLQ C30 questionnaire, to compare the QoL between GCT survivors(disease free> 2 years) and healthy matched controls. A multivariate regression model was used to identify factors affecting QoL. Results: A total of 55 cases and 100 controls were recruited. Cases had a median age of 32 years (interquartile range, IQR 28-40 years), ECOG PS of 0-1(75%), advanced stage III (58%), chemotherapy (94%) and 66% were >5 years from diagnosis. The median age of controls: 35 years (IQR 28-43 years). Statistically significant difference was seen for t emotional (85.8 14.2 vs 91.7 10.4, p 0.005), social(83.0 22.0 vs 95.2 9.6, p <0.001) and global scales (80.4 21.1 vs 91.3 9.7, p <0.001). Cases had more nausea and vomiting(3.3 7.4 vs 1.0 3.9, p 0.015), pain(13.913.9 vs 4.89.8, p<0.001), dyspnea(7.9 + 14.3 vs 2.7 9.1, p 0.007), and appetite loss(6.7 14.9 vs 1.9 7.9, p 0.016) and greater financial toxicity(31.5 32.3 vs 9.0 16.3, p <0.001). Adjusting for age, performance status, BMI, stage, chemotherapy, RPLND, recurrent disease, and time since diagnosis, no predictive variables were significant. Conclusion: There is a detrimental impact of history of GCT in long term survivors of GCT.