Abstract 320P
Background
The recent rapidly evolving mUC treatment landscape complicates therapy decision. Understanding patients’ and doctors’ perceptions on treatment approaches can facilitate patient–doctor communication and future drug development.
Methods
The Hong Kong Society of Uro-Oncology developed surveys (in both Chinese and English) to collect treatment priorities and expectations from mUC patients and clinicians. The patient version was distributed via social media platforms and patient talks from April–July 2024. The clinician version was delivered via email lists in July 2024.
Results
Of 95 patient responders, 22 (23.5%) confirmed to have mUC. Most were aged > 70 (64.7%). Of 16 patients on treatment, 11 (68.8%) were treated in public hospitals. Of 13 responders, 4 (30.8%) reported the use of platinum-based chemotherapy and 4 reported immunotherapy (IO). Most patients (> 60%) were uncertain about what type or how many lines of treatment received. Responders (n=16) ranked the chance to eliminate all evidence of disease as the most important factor for treatment selection (score 5.25 on a scale of 1–6). Regarding treatment side effects, responders (n=13) ranked severe/potentially fatal ones, e.g. myelosuppression/pneumonitis, as the most worrying (4.38 [1–5]). When asked to define treatment success, responders (n=12) ranked reduction in tumor size/number as the most crucial factor (3.83 [1–5]). Nearly 70% (9/13) of patients depend on doctors’ advice on treatment selection. Most clinician responders (21/22) were oncologists and mostly ranked the chance to lengthen overall survival (OS) as the most important factor for treatment selection (4.29; n=17), severe/potentially fatal side effects as the most worrying (5; n=17), and OS prolongation as the most crucial endpoint for treatment success (5; n=17).
Conclusions
Most mUC patients are not familiar with their systemic treatment. Both patients and clinicians are most worried about severe/potentially fatal side effects. When assessing treatment selection/success, patients and clinicians tend to consider tumor responses and OS benefits, respectively. Patients show a high level of trust in clinicians for treatment selection.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Hong Kong Society of Uro-Oncology.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.