Long-Term Late Toxicity, Quality of Life, and Emotional Distress in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated With Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

Abstract

Purpose: To report long-term (>4 years) toxicity and quality of life (QoL) among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in a nonendemic center.

Methods and materials: A cross-sectional cohort study enrolled patients with NPC who were disease-free and ≥4 years after IMRT ± chemotherapy. Physician-reported adverse events (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.03) and patient-reported QoL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue), utilities (EuroQOL-5D), head and neck symptoms (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck), and emotional distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were collected. Consenting patients also underwent endocrine screening and audiometry.

Results: Among 107 patients enrolled, median age at enrollment and time since treatment were 57 (32-81) and 7.5 years (4.2-11.1), respectively. Most patients (99%) received 70 Gy in 35 fractions; the majority (93%) received concurrent chemotherapy. Mean scores for the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue, and EuroQOL-5D were 105.0 (46-148), 116.6 (44-160), and 0.85 (0.29-1.00), respectively. Dry mouth, mucus, swallowing/chewing, memory, and teeth/gum problems were scored highest on the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck; mean symptom severity and symptom interference scores were 2.3 and 2.4, respectively. Grade 3 or higher physician-reported adverse events were noted in 50 patients (47%), most frequently hearing problems (46, 43%). Audiometry revealed significant bilateral hearing loss (grade ≥3) in 68 patients (72%). Depression (25%), anxiety (37%), and fatigue (28%) were common and strongly correlated with QoL. Most patients (69%) developed hypothyroidism; 1 patient (1%) developed pituitary dysfunction requiring hormone replacement. V50 >90 and V45 >99 to the thyroid correlated with significantly higher rates of hypothyroidism.

Conclusions: Despite the implementation of IMRT, survivors of NPC still experience many physical symptoms that affect long-term QoL many years after treatment. Depression, anxiety, and fatigue remain common in long-term survivors and are highly correlated with QoL.