TY - JOUR
T1 - Taste, smell and mouthfeel disturbances in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors treated with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors
AU - van Elst, Jip M
AU - IJzerman, Nikki S
AU - Mathijssen, Ron H J
AU - Steeghs, Neeltje
AU - Reyners, Anna K L
AU - de Haan, Jacco J
N1 - © 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - CONTEXT: Taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances are underrated and underreported, but important side effects of anti-cancer medication. These symptoms are associated with a lower quality of life (QoL). The prevalence and the impact of taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances on daily life in patients with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) are largely unknown.OBJECTIVES: This exploratory study assessed the prevalence and type of taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances and their impact on daily life and QoL in patients with a GIST treated with a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI).METHODS: Patients currently treated with TKIs for GIST completed a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire addressed changes in taste, smell, and mouthfeel and, if changes occurred, impact on daily life and QoL. Statistics are descriptive.RESULTS: A total of 65 GIST patients on TKI treatment completed the questionnaire. Of these patients, 79%, 12%, and 9% currently used imatinib, sunitinib, and regorafenib respectively. Taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances were reported by 25 (38%), 15 (23%), and 36 (55%) patients respectively. Salty and sweet tastes were mostly affected, respectively in 14 and 13 patients. A dry mouth was experienced by 29 (45%) patients. Taste disturbances were more often reported to have impact on daily life and QoL (80% and 60%) than smell (47% and 31%) and mouthfeel disturbances (47% and 30%).CONCLUSION: Taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances are frequent side effects of TKIs in GIST patients. Daily life and QoL are affected in a considerable number of those patients.
AB - CONTEXT: Taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances are underrated and underreported, but important side effects of anti-cancer medication. These symptoms are associated with a lower quality of life (QoL). The prevalence and the impact of taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances on daily life in patients with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) are largely unknown.OBJECTIVES: This exploratory study assessed the prevalence and type of taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances and their impact on daily life and QoL in patients with a GIST treated with a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI).METHODS: Patients currently treated with TKIs for GIST completed a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire addressed changes in taste, smell, and mouthfeel and, if changes occurred, impact on daily life and QoL. Statistics are descriptive.RESULTS: A total of 65 GIST patients on TKI treatment completed the questionnaire. Of these patients, 79%, 12%, and 9% currently used imatinib, sunitinib, and regorafenib respectively. Taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances were reported by 25 (38%), 15 (23%), and 36 (55%) patients respectively. Salty and sweet tastes were mostly affected, respectively in 14 and 13 patients. A dry mouth was experienced by 29 (45%) patients. Taste disturbances were more often reported to have impact on daily life and QoL (80% and 60%) than smell (47% and 31%) and mouthfeel disturbances (47% and 30%).CONCLUSION: Taste, smell, and mouthfeel disturbances are frequent side effects of TKIs in GIST patients. Daily life and QoL are affected in a considerable number of those patients.
U2 - 10.1007/s00520-021-06658-z
DO - 10.1007/s00520-021-06658-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 34727226
VL - 30
SP - 2307
EP - 2315
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
SN - 0941-4355
IS - 3
ER -
