Chief Investigator - Prof Dame Lesley Fallowfield
Co-Investigator - Dr Valerie Shilling
Researcher - Rachel Starkings
Researcher - Dr Helena Harder
Data Manager - Shirley May
Funder: Eli Lilly
Sponsor: Sussex University
IMPact of AbemaCiclib on patienTs' rOles and Responsibilities (IMPACTOR)
This study looked at quality of life (QoL) in women starting abemaciclib treatment for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Often, QoL is studied as part of a clinical trial but research has shown that the participants in clinical trials are not always like people taking the treatment in the 'real world'. This is because clinical trials often need to control for lots of factors, such as age or having other medical conditions. In the IMPACTOR study, we looked at the impact of abemaciclib on quality of life for women outside of a clinical trial.
Forty-four particiants completed questionnaires measuring general health-related QoL, endocrine symptoms (e.g. hot flushes) and side effects associated with abemaciclib such as diarrhoea. They also completed a questionnaire measuring ability to maintain or return to normal roles and responsibilities; things like caring for family members, returning to work and managing financial responsibilities. They were asked to complete these measures before starting treatment and after one, three and six months. Participants also kept a weekly diarrhoea diary, as diarrhoea is a common side-effect of abemaciclib. This enabled us to track whether or not they experience diarrhoea during the study, what steps they may have taken to reduce it (e.g. changing diet), and whether diarrhoea reduced with increased time on treatment.
Twenty participants also took part in an interview study to explore in more depth their experiences of treatment and side effects, the impact on different areas of their lives, and how they and their healthcare professionals tried to manage any problems.
This study is now closed. Results are being prepared for publications and conference presentations.
Current Stage:
Closed
Poster
Early supportive interventions needed to reduce treatment burden of abemaciclib + endocrine therapy in metastatic breast cancer posters/IMPACTOR_POSTER_IPOS.pdf Presented at IPOS 2024