Racial disparity in oncologic and quality‐of‐life outcomes in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas enrolled in a randomized phase 2 trial

BACKGROUND To better understand patient‐reported quality of life (PRQOL) for patients with head and neck cancer, PRQOL scores were collected in a clinical trial. METHODS Patients were randomized to arm A (70 Gy of radiation with cisplatin) or arm B (70 Gy of radiation with cisplatin plus erlotinib at 150 mg daily). PRQOL scores were measured on days –7 (arm B only), 0, 30, and 180 with the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire. Associations with clinical factors and outcomes were explored with linear mixed, logistic, and Cox regression models. RESULTS One hundred eighty‐nine patients (97 in arm A and 92 in arm B) consented to PRQOL collection. Patients were balanced apart from more females in arm A (20 [21%] vs 8 [9%]; P = .02). There were 17 black patients (18%) in arm A and 12 (13%) in arm B (P = .39). There was no change in the mean scores in arm B from day –7 to day 0 (P = .36). Scores were lower in both arms at day 30 (P for both