Current knowledge of health-related quality of life in patients with malignant brain tumors

Abstract

Overall survival time (OS) and progression-free survival time (PFS) are generally used as endpoints in clinical trials involving malignant brain tumors including gliomas and lymphomas. The clinical manifestation of greatest concern in patients with malignant brain tumors such as glioblastoma is a decrease in function due to neurological deterioration that could hamper activities of daily life. Evaluation of the improvement in patient quality of life is necessary in addition to the evaluation of survival time, as the number of long-term survivors increases. However, research on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and cognitive function of patients after treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy for malignant brain tumors is insufficient. To enhance research on HRQOL in malignant brain tumor patients, the methods and shortcomings of HRQOL evaluation are reviewed and discussed.