1001P - Patients’ prioritization of treatment goals in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): A global qualitative observational study (PERIDOT)

Background

Patients with cancer have reported an unmet need regarding education of all treatment options available to them and their impact on survival and quality of life (QoL). This is especially true for patients with HCC in a time of new treatment options like immunotherapy. This study qualitatively explored patients’ prioritized treatment goals and cross-referenced them to those of treating physicians.

Methods

Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients with HCC and physicians who managed their care in the US, Germany, France, and Japan. Interviews were conducted with physicians (n=12, n=3 per country) and patients (n=51 [10-15/country]) with early (n=20), intermediate (n=15), or advanced (n=16) HCC. Qualitative data were analyzed using directed content analysis techniques and quantitative demographic data were descriptively summarized.

Results

Patients shared a wide range of physical and emotional impacts when describing their HCC journey including fatigue, nausea, appetite loss, diarrhea, and pain. Patients described their role in treatment decision-making as passive but most felt well-informed and involved. Patients described that overall survival (OS) and QoL were most important, in addition to avoiding relapse and disease progression, and were generally similar across the three stages of HCC. Patients did not refer to side effects/safety of treatment as specific treatment considerations but prioritized their overall QoL as an important factor in their treatment decision-making. Physicians identified OS, progression-free survival, and safety/tolerability as important treatment goals and reported that they discussed realistic goals with patients. Treatment pathways and physician decision-making were mainly based on country-specific guidelines and multidisciplinary tumor board recommendations.

Conclusions

Extending survival and improving QoL were important treatment goals for patients. Discussing the benefits and risks of available treatment options with patients is important to ensure they have the opportunity to achieve outcomes aligned to their treatment goals.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

AstraZeneca.

Funding

AstraZeneca.

Disclosure

M. Wörns: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Dr. Falk Pharma, Gilead Sciences, Incyte, Ipsen, Janssen-Cilag, MSD Sharp & Dohme, MYR Pharma-ceuticals, Roche Pharma, SOBI; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Support for attending meetings and/or travel: AbbVie, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Ipsen, Lilly, Roche Pharma; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Gilead Sciences, Ipsen, Incyte, MSD Sharp & Dohme, MYR Pharmaceuticals, Nordic Pharma, Roche Pharma, SOBI; Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Leadership or fiduciary role in other board, society, committee or advocacy group, paid or unpaid: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie, Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten: S3-Leitlinie Diagnostik und Therapie biliärer Karzinome, S3-Leitlinie Diagnostik und Therapie des Hepatozellulären Karzinoms. D. Burns: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: Clarivate; Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as employee.: Clarivate. J. Sah: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: AstraZeneca. H. Makin: Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as employee.: Clarivate; Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: Clarivate. G. Al-Jassar: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: Cla. L. Turner: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: AstraZeneca. M. Paskow: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: AstraZeneca.