Final Results From a Longitudinal Observation Study Evaluating Sexual Health and Facial Appearance and Distress in Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer Survivors Treated With Chemoradiotherapy

IF 6.5 1区医学 Q1 ONCOLOGY International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics Pub Date : 2025-02-17 DOI:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.02.004

Lachlan McDowell PhD , Karla Gough PhD , Tsien Fua MBBS , Andrew Coleman MBBS , Allison Drosdowsky PhD , Danny Rischin MD , June Corry MD

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Abstract

Purpose

This communication reports on the complete results of a prospective study evaluating sexual health and appearance-related outcomes in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer (HPVOPC) survivors treated with (chemo)radiation therapy ((C)RT).

Methods and Materials

One hundred patients with HPVOPC scheduled to receive curative-intent (C)RT were enrolled into a longitudinal observational study between October 2020 and November 2021. Sexual health was measured using the 22-item European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Sexual Health Questionnaire and appearance-related issues were measured using FACE-Q Appearance and Appearance distress modules. Questionnaires were administered before (C)RT, in the last week of treatment (week 7), and 3, 12, and 24 months after (C)RT. Linear mixed models estimated mean differences at follow-up assessments compared with before (C)RT.

Results

Global tests of differences across time provided moderate-to-strong evidence against the null hypothesis of no differences for all 22-item EORTC Sexual Health Questionnaire scales/items, apart from sexual pain and insecurity with partner (both P > .10). Compared with before (C)RT, the remainder of item/scale scores indicated worse sexual health in the last week of treatment, convalescing to pretreatment levels by 3 months (importance of sexual activity, worry incontinence), 12 months (sexual satisfaction, libido, fatigue affecting sex life), or 24 months (treatment affecting sex life, confidence in erection) after treatment. On average, feeling less masculine scores did not return to pretreatment levels by the final assessment. Appearance distress, but not facial appearance, was worse in the last week of treatment but improved by 3 months after treatment.

Conclusions

Most sexual health outcomes impacted by (C)RT return to pretreatment levels by 3, 12, or 24 months. Temporary appearance distress was reported at the end of treatment. This communication provides multidimensional sexual health data to strengthen counseling of patients with HPVOPC.

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一项纵向观察研究评估接受放化疗的人乳头瘤病毒相关口咽癌幸存者的性健康、面部外观和痛苦的最终结果：HPV OPC患者的性健康和面部外观。

目的：本通讯报告了一项前瞻性研究的完整结果，该研究评估了接受（化疗）放疗（(C)RT）治疗的人乳头瘤病毒相关口咽癌（HPVOPC）幸存者的性健康和外观相关结局。方法和材料：在2020年10月至2021年11月期间，100名计划接受治疗意图(C)RT的HPVOPC患者入组了一项纵向观察研究。使用EORTC性健康问卷（QLQ-SHQ22）测量性健康，使用FACE-Q外观和外观困扰模块测量与外观相关的问题。在(C)放疗前、治疗最后一周（第7周）以及(C)放疗后3、12和24个月分别进行问卷调查。线性混合模型估计随访评估与(C)RT之前的平均差异。结果：跨时间差异的整体检验提供了中等到强烈的证据，反对所有QLQ-SHQ22量表/项目无差异的原假设，除了性疼痛和与伴侣的不安全感（P均为0.10）。与(C)RT前相比，其余项目/量表得分表明，在治疗的最后一周，性健康状况更差，在治疗后3个月（性活动的重要性，担心失禁），12个月（性满意度，性欲，疲劳影响性生活）或24个月（治疗影响性生活，勃起信心）恢复到预处理水平。平均而言，在最后的评估中，感觉男性化程度降低的得分并没有回到前的水平。外观困扰在治疗的最后一周加重，但在治疗后3个月有所改善。结论：受(C)RT影响的大多数性健康结果在3、12或24个月后恢复到预处理水平。在治疗结束时报告了暂时性的外观困扰。这种交流提供了多维性健康数据，以加强对丙型肝炎患者的咨询。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics 医学-核医学

CiteScore

11.00

自引率

7.10%

发文量

2538

审稿时长

6.6 weeks

期刊介绍： International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (IJROBP), known in the field as the Red Journal, publishes original laboratory and clinical investigations related to radiation oncology, radiation biology, medical physics, and both education and health policy as it relates to the field. This journal has a particular interest in original contributions of the following types: prospective clinical trials, outcomes research, and large database interrogation. In addition, it seeks reports of high-impact innovations in single or combined modality treatment, tumor sensitization, normal tissue protection (including both precision avoidance and pharmacologic means), brachytherapy, particle irradiation, and cancer imaging. Technical advances related to dosimetry and conformal radiation treatment planning are of interest, as are basic science studies investigating tumor physiology and the molecular biology underlying cancer and normal tissue radiation response.