Improved Health-Related Quality of Life Reported in the ASCENT Study

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a significant impact on a patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQOL), with patients with metastatic disease having worse outcomes than those with other breast cancer subtypes.¹ The phase 3 ASCENT study of Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) in patients with relapsed or refractory metastatic TNBC who had undergone ≥2 prior systemic treatments, ≥1 for metastatic disease, has shown new findings.¹ This new subanalysis found significant and clinically relevant increases in HRQOL with Trodelvy compared with chemotherapy chosen by patients’ physicians.¹

Limited treatment options and poor survival outcomes are exacerbated by a significant reduction in quality of life in TNBC, particularly in relapsed or refractory metastatic illness, where patients may be subjected to multiple rounds of chemotherapy.¹ Trodelvy is not only the first medication to extend survival in these patients, but the study also indicated that Trodelvy can dramatically reduce symptom load and give patients better quality of life during this challenging time.¹

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire was used to assess HRQOL at baseline, on day 1 of each cycle, and at the end of treatment.¹ Patients’ opinions of their own physical, mental, and social health were assessed, which might be influenced by disease symptoms and treatment adverse effects.^1,2

Patients receiving Trodelvy (n = 236) had significant and clinically relevant increases in HRQOL ratings, including global health status, physical functioning, and emotional functioning, when compared with those receiving physician’s choice of chemotherapy (n = 183), according to the analysis.^1,2 Although patients in the Trodelvy arm experienced more gastrointestinal side effects (ie, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) than those who received treatment in the physician’s choice arm, this did not appear to have a negative effect on functioning or numerous quality-of-life assessments.²

Because many metastatic TNBC patients’ disease progresses swiftly after chemotherapy, the survival advantage provided by Trodelvy is extremely important, as is the patients’ quality of life during that time.¹

References

1. Gilead. TRODELVY significantly improved quality of life over standard of care in 2L+ metastatic triple-negative breast cancer in phase 3 ASCENT study. www.gilead.com/news-and-press/press-room/press-releases/2021/9/trodelvy-significantly-improved-quality-of-life-over-standard-of-care-in-2l-metastatic-triplenegative-breast-cancer-in-phase-3-ascent-study. Accessed December 16, 2021.
2. Loibl S, Loirat D, Tolaney SM, et al. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the ASCENT study of sacituzumab govitecan (SG) in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). Updated September 2021. Presented at: European Society for Medical Oncology Virtual Congress; September 16-21, 2021. Poster 257P.