Negative correlations of psychological distress with quality of life and immunotherapy efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC

To evaluate the relationships between psychological distress and immunotherapy efficacy, adverse reactions and quality of life scores in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A total of 104 NSCLC patients who received 4-6 cycles of standard immunotherapy were enrolled and evaluated with the Distress Thermometer (DT) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). The aim was to analyze the correlation between psychological distress and quality of life and to analyze whether psychological distress affects the efficacy of and adverse reactions to immunotherapy. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) of the psychological distress group were 6% and 50%, respectively, and those of the no psychological distress group were 18.5% and 83.3%, respectively. The differences were statistically significant (χ²=14.131, P<0.05). The progression-free survival (PFS) of advanced NSCLC patients who received comprehensive immunotherapy and had no psychological distress was significantly better than that of the psychological distress group (HR, 0.338; 95% CI, 0.192-0.592; P<0.05). The PFS of advanced NSCLC patients who received immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in the no psychological distress group was significantly better than that in the psychological distress group (HR, 0.458; 95% CI, 0.296-0.709; P<0.05). Psychological distress in advanced NSCLC patients affects the efficacy of immunotherapy, and psychological distress is negatively correlated with quality of life during immunotherapy.