Performance status dynamics during treatment with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine versus gemcitabine alone for metastatic pancreatic cancer

OBJECTIVES: This analysis examined changes in Karnofsky performance status (KPS) as a surrogate for patient’s well-being during treatment with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine vs gemcitabine alone as first-line therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC) in the Phase III MPACT trial. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Descriptive analyses were performed for KPS at three time points (3 and 6 months after randomization and 1 month before disease progression) and for time to any KPS deterioration. Time to definitive KPS deterioration (≥10-point KPS decrease from baseline) was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. A larger decrease from baseline (≥20 points) was investigated as a sensitivity analysis. A Cox proportional hazards model analyzed the effect of baseline factors (including treatment) potentially associated with time to definitive deterioration. RESULTS: The two treatment arms had generally comparable time to any KPS deterioration, similar KPS at 3 and 6 months after randomization and at 1 month before disease progression, and no significant difference in time to definitive deterioration. Baseline KPS, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, age, liver metastases, and region had a significant effect on time to definitive KPS deterioration, but treatment arm did not. CONCLUSION: The increased survival observed with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine was not associated with adverse effects on performance status.