303P - Predicting quality of life trajectories in young women with breast cancer: 5-year results from a large prospective cohort

Background

Current cancer treatments often lead to significant adverse effects and long-term impacts on quality of life (QoL) in young women with breast cancer (YWBC). Research exploring QoL trajectories has been mostly centered on patients aged ≥50 and evaluated specific QoL domains, disregarding the multidimensionality of QoL. Here we report longitudinal changes across all QoL dimensions and associated factors in YWBC.

Methods

Women aged ≤40 with stage I-III BC were accrued in the Joven & Fuerte cohort. EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires were completed at diagnosis and during four follow-up visits over five years, together with demographic and clinical data. We analyzed the main patterns of QoL with group-based multivariate trajectory modeling, identifying three groups named according to their functional and symptom scores. Factors associated with each trajectory pattern were identified with multinomial logistic models.

Results

A total of 477 women with a median age of 36 (IQR: 32-38) were included. Patients were clustered into the best (n=259, 54%), good (n=79, 17%), or poor trajectory groups (n=139, 29%). Throughout the disease, patients with a poor QoL experienced clinically significant impairment in emotional functioning, nausea, vomiting, and pain. They also had important cognitive impairment, dyspnea, and diarrhea. Patients with a good QoL had clinically meaningful diarrhea for the first 7 months, while those with the best QoL had clinically important nausea and vomiting during the first 2 months since diagnosis. Noteworthy, all groups experienced significant financial difficulties throughout their BC journey. Regular alcohol consumption (aOR 1.64; 95% CI 1.02 - 2.65) and HER2+ BC (aOR 2.53; 95% CI 1.35 - 4.73) were independent factors associated with a poor and good QoL trajectory, respectively. However, surgery, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy schemes showed no significant association.

Conclusions

Our study underscores the individual variability in QoL among YWBC and the importance of ongoing monitoring. Strategies to improve access to economic resources and manage treatment-related adverse effects are needed. It is advisable to support patients in discontinuing unhealthy habits that negatively impact their QoL.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Cynthia Villarreal-Garza.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

F. Rotolo: Financial Interests, Personal, Member: Sanofi; Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: Innate Pharma. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.