Abstract
CONTEXT: Targeted therapy has revolutionized lung cancer treatment and markedly increased survival, though data are lacking on patient-reported and end-of-life (EOL) outcomes among patients receiving targeted therapy. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare quality of life (QOL), symptoms, prognostic communication, and EOL care between patients receiving targeted therapy and patients with lung cancer without targetable mutations. METHODS: In this secondary analysis of a randomized trial of early palliative care in advanced lung cancer (n=154), we compared change in QOL and symptoms (per the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment [FACT]-Lung scale) over 24 weeks among patients with lung cancer receiving targeted therapy versus those without targetable mutations using linear mixed effects models, adjusted for receipt of palliative care, age and gender. We also compared prognostic communication and decedents' EOL health care utilization using logistic regression, adjusted for palliative care. RESULTS: Compared to individuals without targetable mutations, patients receiving targeted therapy (n=35) reported greater improvements in QOL (FACT-General B=0.46; 95% CI=0.19, 0.73) and symptoms (FACT-Lung Cancer Subscale B=0.12; 95% CI=0.03, 0.20) over time, independent of palliative care. Patients receiving targeted therapy were also more likely to report they rarely discussed prognosis with their clinicians (OR=2.59, 95% CI=1.01, 6.63) and were more likely to receive cancer-directed therapy in their last 14 days of life (OR=14.98, 95% CI=4.08, 54.96). CONCLUSIONS: Relative to patients without targetable mutations, patients with lung cancer who receive targeted therapy experience improved QOL and symptoms, are less likely to discuss prognosis early in their illness course, and more likely to continue treatment until death and die in the hospital.