Objectives: The therapeutic range in advanced and castration resistant prostate cancer is widening. Therapies must offer real clinical efficacy, and they also should be acceptable and desirable for patients, specially in advanced disease. We analyze the value of quality of life analysis in patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Methods: We performed a bibliographic review (Pubmed) with the various health related quality of life scales available and different clinical trials on advanced prostate cancer.
Results: There are numerous therapeutic options but, due to variations in study design, a different evaluation of adverse events and different therapeutic regimens, comparisons are difficult. A common method to interpret results is not available, so most of the times that interpretation is left to statistical significance, which is not always well correlated with clinical significance.
Conclusions: To propose the most adequate treatment in patient`s interest, we need results focused on patients that combine not only quantity or overall survival but also quality of life. Parameters such as QALY should be included in clinical trials as evaluation objectives in order to favor decision taking.