Melanoma Patient-Reported Quality of Life Outcomes Following Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy, Completion Lymphadenectomy, and Adjuvant Interferon: Results from the Sunbelt Melanoma Trial

Michael E. Egger, Charles W. Kimbrough, Arnold J. Stromberg, Amy R. Quillo, Robert C.G. Martin, Charles R. Scoggins, Kelly M. McMasters

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Quality of life (QOL) and physical condition (PC) outcomes after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), completion lymph node dissection (CLND), and adjuvant therapy with interferon alfa-2b (IFN) were evaluated in this study. Methods: Self-reported QOL and PC scores were evaluated in patients enrolled in a prospective, multicenter, randomized, clinical trial evaluating adjuvant IFN. After SLN biopsy, patients with a positive SLN underwent CLND then were randomized to adjuvant IFN or observation. QOL and PC scores were compared between patients who underwent SLNB alone, CLND without IFN, and CLND with IFN. Time to return to baseline QOL and PC scores reported at the time of SLNB was recorded and compared. Results: There were statistically significant differences in time to return to baseline QOL (p = 0.0018) and PC (p = 0.0018) scores across the three treatment groups. The time to return to baseline QOL and PC scores was similar for SLND and CLND alone. Differences in time to return to baseline QOL and PC were sustained when stratified by recurrence status but did not differ significantly for different lymph node regions. There was a delay in return to baseline QOL and PC condition scores that was sustained beyond the cessation of IFN therapy. Conclusions: CLND is well-tolerated with a similar effect on self-reported QOL outcomes in both the short- and long-term compared with SLNB alone. IFN therapy is associated with worse QOL outcomes compared with SLNB and CLND, an effect that may be sustained following cessation of adjuvant IFN.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1019-1025
Number of pages7
JournalAnnals of Surgical Oncology
Volume23
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2016

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This is a study of the Sunbelt Melanoma Trial, which was sponsored by a grant from Schering Oncology Biotech. All data management and subsequent analysis has been performed independently at the University of Louisville. Schering Oncology Biotech was not involved in conduct of the trial, data analysis, or production of this manuscript.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, Society of Surgical Oncology.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Oncology

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