Most Patients Report Low Financial Burden With Stereotactic Body Radiation for Prostate Cancer

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for localized prostate cancer is associated with low patient-reported financial toxicity, but socioeconomic disparities remain. Researchers published the findings in Frontiers in Oncology.

“In patients with localized prostate cancer, 5-fraction SBRT has been found to offer comparable oncologic outcomes and potential for improved treatment compliance compared to conventional, 40-plus fraction radiation therapy,” wrote lead author Tamir N Sholklapper, MD, of Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, and coauthors.

Researchers used the 12-item COST questionnaire to gauge financial toxicity, or the patient’s experience of the financial burden of a disease and its management, after SBRT for localized prostate cancer. A higher COST value represented a lower grade.

Among 332 patients who completed the questionnaire, 90.7% reported grade 0 financial toxicity, 8.2% reported grade 1 financial toxicity, and 1.1% reported grade 2 financial toxicity, according to the study. No respondents reported grade 3 toxicity.

“The reason for such low financial toxicity is likely multifactorial and may relate to the overwhelming proportion of men who were retired and report high income levels, as well as the 5-treatment course of SBRT,” researchers wrote. “Interestingly, we found no significant difference in financial toxicity for patients who were within 6 months of SBRT.”

The study also found that unemployment, disability, nonwhite race, low income, and concurrent hormonal therapy were associated with a statistically significant higher financial toxicity. The three groups reporting the worst financial toxicity, in order of decreasing severity, were patients who did not have health insurance, who had a disability, or who had an annual income less than $14,999.

Reference:
Sholklapper TN, Creswell ML, Payne AT, et al. Patient-reported financial burden following stereotactic body radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer. Front Oncol. 2022;12:852844. doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.852844