Abstract
BACKGROUND: Single-agent carboplatin at area under the curve 10 (AUC10) is an effective treatment for metastatic seminoma. As far as we are aware of, there have been no studies reporting its effects on short-term quality of life. The objective was to study the efficacy, safety and tolerability, using health-related quality of life, of carboplatin AUC10 chemotherapy in patients with metastatic seminoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients with metastatic seminoma treated at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre with carboplatin AUC10 were included in this study. Response to treatment was determined by radiological imaging (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v 1.1) and serum tumour markers. Toxicities were evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0. Quality of life treatment-related toxicities were assessed during treatment at pre-chemotherapy assessments. After treatment, toxicity was assessed using a defined telephone questionnaire consisting of four questions relating to hair loss, hearing impairment, days absent from work, and neuropathy. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 27.5 (range=4-84) months, no patient had experienced relapse. Grade 3/4 neutropenia was seen in 15 (35%) patients, nine (21%) required prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, 13 (30%) patients had grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia. Commonest non-haematological toxicities were fatigue in 28 (65%) and nausea 14 (33%) patients. They were grade 1 in 82% and 92% of cases, respectively. Six out of 44 (14%) had residual tinnitus. One patient had residual grade 1 peripheral neuropathy. Ten patients continued to work throughout treatment and two patients were retired. Of the remaining patients, 16 (37%), took fewer than 5 days off work. CONCLUSION: Carboplatin AUC10 is a safe and effective treatment for stage II/III seminoma with better health-related quality of life than experienced with combination cisplatin-based chemotherapy.