Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38539552›Full record

ArticleCancers2024

Longitudinal Assessment of Quality of Life in Nasopharyngeal Cancer Patients Treated with Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy at Different Time Points.

Kuan-Cho Liao, Yu-Jie Huang, Wen-Ling Tsai, Chien-Hung Lee, Fu-Min Fang

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancers, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
4.6field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Quality of life in nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal outcomes.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Kuan-Cho LiaoDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833401, Taiwan.
Yu-Jie HuangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833401, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-5729-3305
Wen-Ling TsaiDepartment of Cosmetics and Fashion Styling, Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung 833301, Taiwan.
Chien-Hung LeeDepartment of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807378, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-0988-264X
Fu-Min FangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833401, Taiwan.
Chang Gung University · TWKaohsiung Medical University · TWCheng Shiu University · TW

Funding

Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital CMRPG8J1031-3, and CMRPG8N0971
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis retrospective cohort study aims to compare the quality of life (QoL) in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) treated with intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) versus volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) at different time points. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe conducted a longitudinal assessment of QoL on 287 newly diagnosed NPC patients (IMPT: 41 and VMAT: 246). We collected outcomes of global QoL, functional QoL, C30 symptoms, and HN35 symptoms from EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HN35 questionnaires at pre-radiotherapy, during radiotherapy (around 40 Gy), 3 months post radiotherapy, and 12-months post radiotherapy (RT). The generalized estimating equation was utilized to interpret the group effect, originating from inherent group differences; time effect, attributed to RT effects over time; and interaction of the group and time effect.

resultsIMPT demonstrated superior mean dose reductions in 12 of the 16 organs at risk compared to VMAT, including a significant (>50%) reduction in the oral cavity and larynx. Both groups exhibited improved scores of global QoL, functional QoL, and C30 symptoms at 12 months post RT compared to the pre-RT status. Regarding global QoL and C30 symptoms, there was no interaction effect of group over time. In contrast, significant interaction effects were observed on functional QoL (

conclusionsCompared to VMAT, dose reduction attributed to IMPT could translate into better functional QoL and HN35 symptoms, but the effect is time dependent and exclusively observed during the RT phase.

Indexed as

intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT)interaction effectnasopharyngeal cancerquality of lifetime-dependent effectvolumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)

Identifiers

PMID38539552
PMCPMC10969465
OpenAlexW4393005198

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.