Objective: To evaluate the effects of S-1, an orally administered 5-FU agent, versus taxane on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in the SELECT BC trial.
Methods: Patients with HER2-negative and endocrine treatment-resistant breast cancer with metastasis or recurrence after surgery were randomly assigned to receive first-line taxane or S-1. PROs (secondary endpoint) were assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ) at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. We conducted a responder analysis for the QLQ-C30 and PNQ and created cumulative distribution function (CDF) plots as a sensitivity analysis.
Results: The questionnaire response rates were over 80% from 386 patients, who completed at least one baseline questionnaire. S-1 was significantly superior to taxane with respect to 6 scales (physical functioning [p = 0.03], role functioning [p = 0.04], social functioning [p < 0.01], financial difficulties [p = 0.01], global health status [p = 0.02], and constipation [p < 0.01]) and sensory neuropathy (p = 0.01). The CDF plots partially supported the conclusions and their robustness.
Conclusion: First-line S-1 therapy has clinical benefits with respect to many aspects of health-related quality of life for metastatic breast cancer patients.
Keywords: Adjuvant chemotherapy; Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy; Clinical trials; Health-related quality of life; Metastatic breast cancer.
© 2017 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.