Improving our understanding of the quality of life of patients with metastatic or recurrent/ persistent anal cancer: a systematic review
Improving our understanding of the quality of life of patients with metastatic or recurrent/ persistent anal cancer: a systematic review
Purpose: chemoradiation (CRT) is used to treat anal carcinomas which, for most patients with loco-regional disease, results in a cure but is associated with acute and chronic complications impairing quality of life (QoL). Patients with metastatic disease or recurrence are likely to experience additional QoL concerns. This paper identifies the QoL issues of these patients and determine whether the EORTC QLQ-ANL27 (QLQ-ANL27), a measure of QoL of patients treated with CRT for anal cancer used alongside the core EORTC QLQ-C30 (QLQ-C30), is suitable or needs adapting.
Methods: a systematic review was conducted of studies published between 2014 and 2024 reporting QoL of patients with metastatic or recurrent/persistent anal cancer or follow-up data of patients treated with CRT for anal cancer.
Results: this review included 23 papers, only three focused exclusively on metastatic and/or recurrent anal cancer. Most of the 53 reported symptoms related to bowel, urinary, and sexual functioning, with 60% covered by the QLQ-ANL27 or the QLQ-C30. Issues not captured include, for example, neuropathy, hair loss, musculoskeletal problems, urinary incontinence, and embarrassment.
Conclusion: there is a paucity of research looking specifically at QoL outcomes of patients with metastatic or recurrent anal cancer. While the QLQ-ANL27 captures most QoL issues affecting these patients, it might require adapting to improve its sensitivity.
Anal cancer, Metastatic, Patient reported outcomes, Persistence, Quality of life, Recurrence, Systemic treatment
Sodergren, Samantha C.
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Edwards, Rowan
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Krishnatry, Rahul
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Guren, Marianne G.
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Dennis, Kristopher
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Franco, Pierfrancesco
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de Felice, Francesca
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Darlington, Anne-Sophie
472fcfc9-160b-4344-8113-8dd8760ff962
Vassiliou, Vassilios
ad59cee9-6bcf-4cde-aa3f-74c8c192d03c
15 May 2025
Sodergren, Samantha C.
d66fc3fa-2c98-403d-8ae5-410ef95de46e
Edwards, Rowan
9cb199bf-b000-48b1-b011-c6c8529e2191
Krishnatry, Rahul
7cc7a1e3-a786-4c07-8569-c5f704c12622
Guren, Marianne G.
d5a8419d-81d0-4242-9d14-926ea2fa4da5
Dennis, Kristopher
496606fd-a1c6-4137-b8fd-dfda047550a2
Franco, Pierfrancesco
0158004d-5438-4cdd-ac81-cd1210b89eed
de Felice, Francesca
f0944356-4823-47f8-8cf7-724f7db9e15d
Darlington, Anne-Sophie
472fcfc9-160b-4344-8113-8dd8760ff962
Vassiliou, Vassilios
ad59cee9-6bcf-4cde-aa3f-74c8c192d03c
Sodergren, Samantha C., Edwards, Rowan, Krishnatry, Rahul, Guren, Marianne G., Dennis, Kristopher, Franco, Pierfrancesco, de Felice, Francesca, Darlington, Anne-Sophie and Vassiliou, Vassilios
(2025)
Improving our understanding of the quality of life of patients with metastatic or recurrent/ persistent anal cancer: a systematic review.
Supportive Care in Cancer, 33 (6), [475].
(doi:10.1007/s00520-025-09520-8).
Abstract
Purpose: chemoradiation (CRT) is used to treat anal carcinomas which, for most patients with loco-regional disease, results in a cure but is associated with acute and chronic complications impairing quality of life (QoL). Patients with metastatic disease or recurrence are likely to experience additional QoL concerns. This paper identifies the QoL issues of these patients and determine whether the EORTC QLQ-ANL27 (QLQ-ANL27), a measure of QoL of patients treated with CRT for anal cancer used alongside the core EORTC QLQ-C30 (QLQ-C30), is suitable or needs adapting.
Methods: a systematic review was conducted of studies published between 2014 and 2024 reporting QoL of patients with metastatic or recurrent/persistent anal cancer or follow-up data of patients treated with CRT for anal cancer.
Results: this review included 23 papers, only three focused exclusively on metastatic and/or recurrent anal cancer. Most of the 53 reported symptoms related to bowel, urinary, and sexual functioning, with 60% covered by the QLQ-ANL27 or the QLQ-C30. Issues not captured include, for example, neuropathy, hair loss, musculoskeletal problems, urinary incontinence, and embarrassment.
Conclusion: there is a paucity of research looking specifically at QoL outcomes of patients with metastatic or recurrent anal cancer. While the QLQ-ANL27 captures most QoL issues affecting these patients, it might require adapting to improve its sensitivity.
Text
Accepted_Sodergren_Metastatic anal cancer systematic literature review 03-05-25
- Accepted Manuscript
Text
s00520-025-09520-8
- Version of Record
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Accepted/In Press date: 3 May 2025
Published date: 15 May 2025
Keywords:
Anal cancer, Metastatic, Patient reported outcomes, Persistence, Quality of life, Recurrence, Systemic treatment
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 502194
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/502194
ISSN: 0941-4355
PURE UUID: 2626cd0e-10df-4729-9392-663dc3c5ef37
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Date deposited: 18 Jun 2025 16:32
Last modified: 29 Aug 2025 01:45
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Contributors
Author:
Rowan Edwards
Author:
Rahul Krishnatry
Author:
Marianne G. Guren
Author:
Kristopher Dennis
Author:
Pierfrancesco Franco
Author:
Francesca de Felice
Author:
Vassilios Vassiliou
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