Quality of life on TSU-68: Combination of docetaxel and TSU-68, an oral antiangiogenic agent, in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracycline

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate whether the addition of TSU-68 would affect on the quality of life (QOL) of Korean metastatic breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel. Methods: Sixty-three of 78 patients completed the baseline QOL questionnaires and at least one follow-up questionnaire comprising questions from the Korean Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Breast (FACT-B), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD), the shortened form of the profile of mood states (BPOMS), and anticipation and anxiety for treatment scale. Changes in QOL scores from baseline were compared by analysis of covariance at each time point (6, 12 weeks, 9, 12 and 18 months) and at the end of treatment (EOT), and the longitudinal changes over time were evaluated by repeated measure analysis. Results: The two-treatment groups (TSU-68 plus docetaxel [A] vs docetaxel alone [B]) were well balanced regarding sociodemographic characteristics, including age (P = 0.450), religion (P = 1.000), education (P = 0.257), ECOG performance status (P = 0.261), and employment status (P = 0.325). The return rate at EOT was 61.9%. In analyses at each QOL measuring time, A group showed a higher FACT-B total score and FACT-G score than B at 12 months (P = 0.031 and P = 0.024, respectively). The anticipation and anxiety for treatment scale of A group was higher than that of B at 12 weeks and EOT (P = 0.046 and P = 0.022, respectively). However, repeated measure analysis for longitudinal changes over time showed no significant group wise differences. Conclusions: The combination of TSU-68 with docetaxel showed no additional adverse effects on patient QOL during the study period, as compared with docetaxel monotherapy.