How does pulmonary function impact QoL in patients with locally advanced NSCLC treated with chemoradiotherapy and durvalumab?

Authors

  • Frigg Å. Sommervoll Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
  • Henrik Horndalsveen Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6806-6116
  • Dag Einar Sommervoll NMBU
  • Jussi Koivonen Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6425-1640
  • Tarje Onsøien Halvorsen Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Oncology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1181-921X
  • Bjørn Henning Grønberg Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Oncology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5744-1534
  • Marianne Aanerud Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
  • Saulius Cicenas Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology, National Cancer Center, Affiliate of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Lithuania
  • Nina Helbekkmo Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
  • Jarkko Ahvonen Tays Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4335-5242
  • Maria Silvoniemi Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9203-7465
  • Gina Barrera Department of Pulmonology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
  • Maria M. Bjaanæs Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0864-3628
  • Vilde Haakensen
  • Åsa Öjlert Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
  • Kersti Oselin Oncology and Haematology Clinic, North Estonia Medical Centre, Tallinn, Estonia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3862-3882
  • Åslaug Helland Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5520-0275
  • Tesfaye Madebo Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Pulmonology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3043-5059

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2026.45040

Keywords:

Lung Cancer, Quality of Life, stage III

Abstract

Background: Impaired pulmonary function is common among patients with lung cancer and may negatively affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The primary objective of the present sub-study of the DART-trial was to assess the overall quality of life changes during treatment and stratified by the presence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Methods: The investigator-initiated DART trial (NCT04392505) included patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with chemoradiotherapy followed by durvalumab. Baseline pulmonary function was measured by spirometry, and patients were stratified by FEV1/FVC <70% (COPD) or ≥70% (non-COPD). HRQoL was assessed regularly using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-LC13 questionnaires at screening and during treatment. A difference in mean score of ≥10 was defined as clinically significant.
Results: A total of 86 patients initiated durvalumab and completed at least one HRQoL assessment; pulmonary function data were available for 64 patients. For the overall cohort, quality of life scores remained stable throughout treatment. Patients with COPD consistently reported lower global health scores than those with preserved lung function. The global health score among patients with COPD was not significantly different at end of treatment compared to baseline, however significantly lower than patients without COPD. Symptom trajectories across QLQ-C30 scales were stable in both groups. Dyspnoea was more prevalent among patients with COPD. In the LC13 module, no clinically significant differences were observed except for dyspnoea, which was consistently higher among patients with COPD.
Interpretation: The HRQoL remained stable during chemoradiotherapy and durvalumab treatment in stage III NSCLC patients. Impaired lung function was associated with modestly lower HRQoL, though larger studies are needed to confirm subgroup effects.

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Published

2026-03-19

How to Cite

Sommervoll, F. Å., Horndalsveen , H., Sommervoll, D. E., Koivonen, J., Halvorsen, T. O., Grønberg, B. H., … Madebo, T. (2026). How does pulmonary function impact QoL in patients with locally advanced NSCLC treated with chemoradiotherapy and durvalumab?. Acta Oncologica, 65, 232–240. https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2026.45040

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Vol. 65 (2026): Acta Oncologica

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Original article

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Copyright (c) 2026 Frigg Å. Sommervoll, Henrik Horndalsveen , Dag Einar Sommervoll, Jussi Koivonen, Tarje Onsøien Halvorsen, Bjørn Henning Grønberg, Marianne Aanerud, Saulius Cicenas, Nina Helbekkmo, Jarkko Ahvonen, Maria Silvoniemi, Gina Barrera, Maria M. Bjaanæs, Vilde Haakensen, Åsa Öjlert, Kersti Oselin, Åslaug Helland, Tesfaye Madebo

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