QoL was evaluated using the EORTC QLQ-C30 every 8 weeks until death. The following scores were analysed: global health, emotional functioning, physical functioning, fatigue and pain. TUDD was defined as the time interval between randomisation and the first occurrence of a decrease in QLQ-C30 score 5 points without any further improvement in QoL score 5 points or any further available QoL data. Analyses were repeated using a 10 point MCID and/or including death as event.
From 08/2003 to 05/2006, 102 patients in Arm A and 100 in Arm B were included. Using a 5 and a 10 point MCID, TUDD curves of the 5 scores did not differ according to treatment arm., The median TUDD of global health was 5.2 months (4.3–6.2) in Arm A and 6.1 months (5.1–8.5) in Arm B (log-rank p = 0.50) including death as an event for a 5 point MCID. Multivariate Cox model showed that tumour localisation and progression were independently associated with TUDD (p < 0.05).
The strategy of chemotherapy did not influence the deterioration of QoL. The TUDD approach seems to provide meaningful clinical results that are adapted to metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma trials.