Outcome Among Quality Of Life, Therapeutic Associated Toxicity And Costs In Early Breast Cancer Patients Using Different Adjuvant Chemotherapy Regimen

Objectives:To determine the difference of quality of life, therapeutic associated toxicity and costs between different adjuvant regimens (TC and FEC regimen).Methods:Thirty-three early breast cancer patients (Stage I or Stage IIa, KPS≥80, age36-68) managed in our department between July2010and July2011were prospectively analyzed in this study. Patients were subdivided into TC regimen group and FEC regimen group. Health-related quality of life was assessed for baseline, beginning and the end of chemotherapy cycles, using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire simplified Chinese version (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC breast cancer module-23. Student’s t test was used to determine the difference between the two groups. Therapeutic associated toxicity and total costs were also statistically analyzed.Results:Among all the33early breast cancer patients,18patients received TC regimen, while15patients received FEC regimen. The Global health status/QOL of all the patients became worse after chemotherapy compared to the baseline assessment (P<0.05). There was significant difference of global health status/QOL between the beginning and the end of the chemotherapy cycles in FEC regimen group, whereas no significant difference in TC regimen group. Different chemotherapy regimens was no significant difference of global health status/QOL at each time point. At baseline and after the first chemotherapy, there was no significant difference of quality of life between the two groups. After the end of the chemotherapy cycles, patients received FEC regimen had more serious symptoms of nausea and vomiting than TC regimen (P<0.05). Other QOL indicators had no significant difference between two chemotherapy regimens. In analysis of treatment related adverse reactions, neutropenia incidence was higher in TC regimen group than that in FEC regimen group (77.7%VS40%, P<0.05). Neutropenia of III/IV degree is also higher in TC regimen group (33.3%VS20%), although without significance (P>0.05). Not only the total incidence of alimentary canal reaction (such as nausea and vomiting), but also that of III/IV degree were higher in FEC regimen group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in other treatment related adverse reactions between two groups. And total costs throughout the process of chemotherapy was higher in TC regimen group (P<0.001).Conclusion:Despite the fact that the two chemotherapy regimens (TC and FEC) can both lead to deteriorations in quality of life in early breast cancer patients, no significant difference is observed between the two groups. Therapeutic associated toxicity is serious in TC regimen group although controllable. And total costs throughout the process of chemotherapy in TC regimen group were higher in FEC regimen group.