Unfavorable impact of cancer cachexia on activity of daily living and need for inpatient care in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in Japan: a prospective longitudinal observational study

Abstract Background Cancer cachexia in elderly patients may substantially impact physical function and medical dependency. The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of cachexia on activity of daily living (ADL), length of hospital stay, and inpatient medical costs among elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving chemotherapy. Methods Thirty patients aged ≥70 years with advanced NSCLC (stage III-IV) scheduled to receive first-line chemotherapy were prospectively enrolled between January 2013 and November 2014. ADL was assessed using the Barthel index. The disability-free survival time (DFS) was calculated as the time between the date of study entry and the date of onset of a disabling event, which was defined as a 10-point decrease in the Barthel index from that at baseline. The mean cumulative function of the length of hospital stay and inpatient medical costs (¥, Japanese yen) was calculated. Results The study patients comprised 11 women and 19 men, with a median age of 74 (range, 70–82) years. Cachexia was diagnosed in 19 (63%) patients. Cachectic patients had a shorter DFS (7.5 vs. 17.1 months, p < 0.05). During the first year from study entry, cachectic patients had longer cumulative lengths of hospital stay (80.7 vs. 38.5 days/person, p < 0.05), more frequent unplanned hospital visits or hospitalizations (4.2 vs. 1.7 times/person, p < 0.05), and higher inpatient medical costs (¥3.5 vs. ¥2.1 million/person, p < 0.05) than non-cachectic patients. Conclusions Elderly NSCLC patients with cachexia showed higher risks for disability, prolonged hospitalizations, and higher inpatient medical costs while receiving chemotherapy than patients without cachexia. Our results might indicate that there is a potential need for an early intervention to minimize progression to or development of cachexia, improve functional prognosis, and reduce healthcare resource burden in this population. Trial registration Trial registration number: UMIN000009768 . Name of registry: UMIN (University hospital Medical Information Network). Date of registration: 14 January 2013. Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: 23 January 2013

Skeletal muscle depletion during chemotherapy has a large impact on physical function in elderly Japanese patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer

Abstract Background Elderly patient with advanced cancer is one of the most vulnerable populations. Skeletal muscle depletion during chemotherapy may have substantial impact on their physical function. However, there is little information about a direct relationship between quantity of muscle and physical function. We sought to explore the quantitative association between skeletal muscle depletion, and muscle strength and walking capacity in elderly patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Thirty patients aged ≥70 years with advanced NSCLC (stage III-IV) scheduled to initiate first-line chemotherapy were prospectively enrolled between January 2013 and November 2014. Lumbar skeletal muscle index (LSMI, cm2/m2), incremental shuttle walking distance (ISWD, m), and hand-grip strength (HGS, kg) were assessed at baseline, and 6 ± 2 weeks (T2) and 12 ± 4 weeks (T3) after study enrollment. Associations were analyzed using linear regression. Results Altogether, 11 women and 19 men with a median age of 74 (range, 70–82) years were included in the study; 24 received cytotoxic chemotherapy and 6, gefitinib. Mean ± standard deviation of LSMI, ISWD and HGS were 41.2 ± 7.8 cm2/m2, 326.0 ± 127.9 m, and 29.3 ± 8.5 kg, respectively. LSMI and ISWD significantly declined from baseline to T2 and T3. HGS significantly declined from baseline to T2 and T3 only in men. Change in LSMI was significantly associated with change in HGS (β = 0.3 ± 0.1, p = 0.0127) and ISWD (β = 8.8 ± 2.4, p = 0.0005). Conclusions Skeletal muscle depletion accompanied with physical functional decline started in the early phase of the chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC. Our results suggest that there may be a need for early supportive care in these patients to prevent functional decline during chemotherapy. Trial registration Trial registration number: UMIN000009768 Name of registry: UMIN (University hospital Medical Information Network). URL of registry: Date of registration: 14 January 2013. Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: 23 January 2013

Edoxaban for 12 Months Versus 3 Months in Cancer Patients With Isolated Distal Deep Vein Thrombosis (ONCO DVT study): An Open-label, Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: The optimal duration of anticoagulation therapy for isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with cancer is clinically relevant, but the evidence is lacking. The prolonged anticoagulation therapy could have a potential benefit for prevention of thrombotic events, however, it could also increase the risk of bleeding. Methods: In a multicenter, open-label, adjudicator-blinded, randomized clinical trial at 60 institutions in Japan, we randomly assigned cancer patients with isolated distal DVT, in a 1-to-1 ratio, to receive either a 12-month or 3-month edoxaban treatment. The primary endpoint was a composite of a symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) or VTE-related death at 12 months. The major secondary endpoint was major bleeding at 12 months, according to the criteria of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis. The primary hypothesis was that a 12-month edoxaban treatment was superior to a 3-month edoxaban treatment with respect to the primary endpoint. Results: From April 2019 through June 2022, 604 patients were randomized, and after excluding 3 patients who withdrew consent, 601 patients were included in the intention-to-treat population: 296 patients in the 12-month edoxaban group and 305 patients in the 3-month edoxaban group. The mean age was 70.8 years, 28% of the patients were men, and 20% of the patients had symptoms of DVT at baseline. The primary endpoint of a symptomatic recurrent VTE event or VTE-related death occurred in 3 of the 296 patients (1.0%) in the 12-month edoxaban group and in 22 of the 305 (7.2%) in the 3-month edoxaban group (odds ratio, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.44). The major secondary endpoint of major bleeding occurred in 28 of the 296 patients (9.5%) in the 12-month edoxaban group and in 22 of the 305 (7.2%) in the 3-month edoxaban group (odds ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.75 to 2.41). The prespecified subgroups did not affect the estimates on the primary endpoint. Conclusions: In cancer patients with isolated distal DVT, 12 months was superior to 3 months for an edoxaban treatment with respect to the composite outcome of a symptomatic recurrent VTE or VTE-related death

Edoxaban for 12 Months Versus 3 Months in Cancer Patients With Isolated Distal Deep Vein Thrombosis (ONCO DVT study): An Open-label, Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: The optimal duration of anticoagulation therapy for isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with cancer is clinically relevant, but the evidence is lacking. The prolonged anticoagulation therapy could have a potential benefit for prevention of thrombotic events, however, it could also increase the risk of bleeding. Methods: In a multicenter, open-label, adjudicator-blinded, randomized clinical trial at 60 institutions in Japan, we randomly assigned cancer patients with isolated distal DVT, in a 1-to-1 ratio, to receive either a 12-month or 3-month edoxaban treatment. The primary endpoint was a composite of a symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) or VTE-related death at 12 months. The major secondary endpoint was major bleeding at 12 months, according to the criteria of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis. The primary hypothesis was that a 12-month edoxaban treatment was superior to a 3-month edoxaban treatment with respect to the primary endpoint. Results: From April 2019 through June 2022, 604 patients were randomized, and after excluding 3 patients who withdrew consent, 601 patients were included in the intention-to-treat population: 296 patients in the 12-month edoxaban group and 305 patients in the 3-month edoxaban group. The mean age was 70.8 years, 28% of the patients were men, and 20% of the patients had symptoms of DVT at baseline. The primary endpoint of a symptomatic recurrent VTE event or VTE-related death occurred in 3 of the 296 patients (1.0%) in the 12-month edoxaban group and in 22 of the 305 (7.2%) in the 3-month edoxaban group (odds ratio, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.44). The major secondary endpoint of major bleeding occurred in 28 of the 296 patients (9.5%) in the 12-month edoxaban group and in 22 of the 305 (7.2%) in the 3-month edoxaban group (odds ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.75 to 2.41). The prespecified subgroups did not affect the estimates on the primary endpoint. Conclusions: In cancer patients with isolated distal DVT, 12 months was superior to 3 months for an edoxaban treatment with respect to the composite outcome of a symptomatic recurrent VTE or VTE-related death