Psychological distress as a risk factor for the efficacy of chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer patients.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To assess the relationship between psychological distress and quality of life (QoL), cancer-related fatigue (CRF), and chemotherapy efficacy in advanced gastric cancer patients. METHODS: Advanced gastric cancer patients (39 with psychological distress and 35 without psychological distress) completed the Distress Thermometer (DT), QoL, and CRF test before receiving chemotherapy and assessed the efficacy after completing 2 courses of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Psychological distress was a significant factor in the efficacy of chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer patients (χ2 = 6.324; p = 0.042). Compared to advanced gastric cancer patients with no psychological distress, advanced gastric cancer patients with psychological distress had a poorer QoL (50.41 ± 6.17 vs. 60.01 ± 7.94, t = - 5.882, p < 0.01) and more pronounced CRF (5.75 ± 1.16 vs. 3.22 ± 0.75, t = 11.231, p < 0.01) while receiving chemotherapy. FACT-G (p = 0.0035, r = - 0.4568), as well as PFS (p < 0.0001, r = 0.6599), correlated significantly with efficacy for patients in the psychological distress group. The FACT-G (p = 0.0134, r = - 0.4139) of patients in the no psychological distress group correlated significantly with efficacy. CONCLUSION: Psychological distress has a negative impact on QoL, CRF, and efficacy and may be a potential risk for the efficacy of palliative chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer patients.