Chemotherapy and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in the last month of life in patients with metastatic lung cancer: A patient file study in the Netherlands

Adinda Mieras*, Annemarie Becker-Commissaris, H. Roeline W. Pasman, Anne-Marie M. C. Dingemans, Edith Kok, Robin Cornelissen, Wouter Jacobs, Jan Willem van den Berg, Alle Welling, Brigitte A. H. A. Bogaarts, Lemke Pronk, Bregje D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective Chemotherapy in the last month of life for patients with metastatic lung cancer is often considered as aggressive end-of-life care. Targeted therapy with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) is a relatively new treatment of which not much is known yet about use in the last month of life. We examined what percentage of patients received chemotherapy or TKIs in the last month of life in the Netherlands. Methods Patient files were drawn from 10 hospitals across the Netherlands. Patients had to meet the following eligibility criteria: metastatic lung cancer; died between June 1, 2013 and July 31, 2015. Results From the included 1,322 patients, 39% received no treatment for metastatic lung cancer, 52% received chemotherapy and 9% received TKIs. A total of 232 patients (18%) received treatment in the last month of life (11% chemotherapy, 7% TKIs). From the patients who received chemotherapy, 145 (21%) received this in the last month of life and 79 (11%) started this treatment in the last month of life. TKIs were given and started more often in the last month of life: from the patients who received TKIs, 87 (72%) received this treatment in the last month of life and 15 (12%) started this treatment in the last month of life. Conclusion A substantial percentage of patient received and even started chemotherapy or TKIs in the last month of life. For chemotherapy, this might be seen as aggressive care. TKIs are said to have less side effects, do not lead to many hospital visits and due to the rapid response, are considered good palliation. However, it is not known, yet possible that, when patients still receiving treatment until shortly before death, this might influence preparing for death in a negative way.

Original languageEnglish
Article number13210
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Journal of Cancer Care
Volume29
Issue number2
Early online date21 Dec 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2020

Keywords

  • aggressive care
  • cancer treatment
  • chemotherapy
  • end of life
  • metastatic lung cancer
  • Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
  • END-OF-LIFE
  • PALLIATIVE CHEMOTHERAPY
  • CARE
  • ONCOLOGY
  • QUALITY
  • OSIMERTINIB
  • GEFITINIB
  • DOCETAXEL
  • NIVOLUMAB
  • ERLOTINIB

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