In a nutshell
The authors aimed to determine the quality-of-life benefits for metastatic melanoma patients treated with dabrafenib compared to dacarbazine.
Some background
Metastatic melanoma is melanoma that has spread out to other parts of the body from the primary tumor site. Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and dacarbazine (DTIC) are drugs used to treat metastatic melanoma in patients with a specific mutation known as BRAF (controls cell growth) mutations.
Quality-of-life assessment questionnaires assess the patients ability for role functioning (performing physical activities), social functioning (ability to interact in society), emotional functioning (expression and control of emotions) and cognitive functioning (perception, thinking and reasoning abilities) after treatment. Quality-of-life scores are determined before treatment begins to determine a baseline and during treatment for comparison.
Methods & findings
The aim of this study was to assess the quality-of-life benefits of dabrafenib compared to dacarbazine in melanoma patients. 250 patients were used in this study with a follow-up time of 10.5 months. 187 patients were given dabrafenib and 63 patients were given dacarbazine.
Patients treated with dabrafenib had an improved/stable functional score (includes role, social, emotional and cognitive functions) at week 6 and experienced a slight worsening in physical, role and cognitive functioning at week 12 compared to initial scores. Significant improvements were recorded in emotional functioning at both week 6 and 12.
Patients treated with dacarbazine experienced worsened scores compared to the start of the study for all functions at week 6 and week 12, with the exception of role function.
At week 12 nausea, vomiting and appetite loss significantly improved from initial scores during dabrafenib treatment. Significant improvements were experienced in diarrhea, breathlessness and insomnia scores at week 6 and in diarrhea and fatigue at week 12.
All symptoms, with the exception of pain, were worsened in patients treated with dacarbazine at week 6 and 12, in particular fatigue, nausea, vomiting, appetite loss and breathlessness.
35 patients who were treated with dacarbazine up until cancer progression, crossed over to dabrafenib treatment, where improvements in all quality-of-life symptoms and functions were witnessed at week 6 (31 patients) and 12 (25 patients).
The bottom line
The authors conclude that dabrafenib has a rapid quality-of-life benefit when used in metastatic melanoma patients compared to dacarbazine.
The fine print
More patients treated with dabrafenib completed the questionnaires after treatment compared to dacarbazine which may have biased the results.
What’s next?
If you are considering treatment with dabrafenib or dacarbazine please consult your doctor for potential risks and benefits of treatment.
Published By :
Annals of oncology
Date :
Apr 25, 2014
