Health-related quality of life in curatively-treated patients with esophageal or gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

H. ctor G. van den Boorn, Charlotte I. Stroes, Aeilko H. Zwinderman, Wietse J. Eshuis, Maarten C. C. M. Hulshof, Faridi S. van Etten-Jamaludin, Mirjam A. G. Sprangers, Hanneke W. M. van Laarhoven

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31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Surgery and chemoradiotherapy can potentially cure esophageal and gastric cancer patients, although they may impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We aim to systemically review and meta-analyze literature to determine the effect of curative treatments on HRQoL in esophageal and gastric cancer.— A systematic search was performed identifying studies assessing HRQoL. Meta-analyses were performed on baseline and subsequent time-points.— From the 6067 articles retrieved, 49 studies were included (61 % low quality). Meta-analyses showed short-term HRQoL differences between esophageal cancer patients receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT), neoadjuvant chemo(radio)therapy (nC(R)T), or surgery alone (p < 0.001), with better HRQoL with nC(R)T and surgery compared to dCRT. Over the course of 12 months, no HRQoL difference was identified between treatments in esophageal cancer (p = 0.633). Esophagectomy, but not gastrectomy, resulted in a clinically relevant decline in HRQoL. No long-term HRQoL differences were identified between curative treatments in esophageal and gastric cancer. More high-quality HRQoL studies are warranted.

Original languageEnglish
Article number103069
JournalCritical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
Volume154
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2020

Keywords

  • Curative treatment
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Gastric cancer
  • Health-related quality of life
  • Patient-reported outcome
  • Quality-of-Life questionnaire

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