CHEMOIMMUNOTHERAPY FOR ADVANCED-STAGE MALIGNANCIES AND ITS IMPACT ON QUALITY-OF-LIFE - MULTIDIMENSIONAL EVALUATION IN 10 CANCER-PATIENTS

The aim of our study was to compare the impact of chemotherapy alone w ith that of chemotherapy plus immunotherapy on the quality of life (QL ) of patients affected by advanced-stage malignancies (eight head and neck squamous-cell carcinomas, two melanomas). Ten patients receiving chemotherapy and immunotherapy sequentially were evaluated. The impact on QL was assessed by both objective and subjective scales. Evaluatio n was performed before the first cycle of therapy, at the end of chemo therapy, and after immunotherapy. The analysis of our data showed that the association of chemotherapy and immunotherapy did not significant ly worsen the QL of patients as compared to chemotherapy alone.