Disease relevance of Karnofsky Performance Status

• PURPOSE: This randomized phase II study compared two treatment schedules of gemcitabine in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and impaired Karnofsky performance status (KP) [1].
• Eighty-three patients (median age, 56 years and Karnofsky performance status greater than or equal to 70) were treated with carboplatin (Carbo) and fluorouracil (5Fu) for stage III and IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) [2].
• In univariate analysis, gender, Karnofsky index, extent of metastases, presence of abdominal metastases, CEA and CA 19-9 correlated with survival [3].
• PURPOSE: To report the survival results from a previous Phase I study of etanidazole (ETA) and radiotherapy in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM n = 50) or anaplastic astrocytoma (AA n = 19) and examine survival according to age, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and implant status [4].
• PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report an open-label, uncontrolled, multicenter phase II trial of temozolomide in 138 patients (intent-to-treat [ITT] population) with glioblastoma multiforme at first relapse and a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) > or = 70 [5].

High impact information on Karnofsky Performance Status

• Seven of 8 patients evaluated at our center were treated with high-dose melphalan (180 mg/m(2) intravenously) and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, with marked improvement of gastrointestinal, central nervous system, pulmonary manifestations, and Karnofsky performance status [6].
• Randomized phase II study of two gemcitabine schedules for patients with impaired performance status (Karnofsky performance status </= 70) and advanced non-small-cell lung cancer [1].
• The factors selected were age, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), hemoglobin (HGB), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALK), and albumin [7].
• Five variables were used as risk factors for short survival: low Karnofsky performance status, high lactate dehydrogenase, low serum hemoglobin, high corrected serum calcium, and time from initial RCC diagnosis to start of interferon-alpha therapy of less than one year [8].
• The outcome analysis included overall survival, taking into account patient age, extent of resection, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and treatment group (BCNU v PCV) [9].

Chemical compound and disease context of Karnofsky Performance Status

• PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed hormone-refractory prostate cancer despite testosterone levels < or = 50 ng/mL, Karnofsky performance status > 70, and adequate bone marrow reserve were enrolled [10].
• The impact of age, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) at presentation, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class, status of extracranial disease, number, size, volume, pathology of brain metastases and steroid use were studied using univariate and multivariate analyses [11].
• The study sample consisted of 136 chemotherapy-naive patients with breast cancer, with Karnofsky index 90% to 100%, scheduled to receive their first cycle of, mainly adjuvant, 5-fluorouracil/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide chemotherapy [12].
• We recruited patients aged over 70 years with newly diagnosed NSCLC, clinical stage III or IV, Karnofsky performance status >or= 70%, normal serum creatinine, peripheral neuropathy <or= grade 1, and no prior cancer therapy [13].
• PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women with metastatic breast cancer, Karnofsky performance status > or = 70, and previous treatment with > or = 3 regimens containing anthracyclines, taxanes, and capecitabine were eligible [14].

Biological context of Karnofsky Performance Status

• PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six symptomatic HIV-infected patients (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stage IV) with a CD4+ count > or = 150 x 10(6)/l and Karnofsky Performance Status score > or = 60, who had not received ZDV or IFN-alpha before [15].
• All patients had a Karnofsky performance status > or = 60%, platelet count > or = 75,000/microL, total bilirubin < or = 2.0x institutional upper limit of normal but otherwise normal liver and kidney function profile and bidimensionally measurable disease by CT scan or ultrasound examination [16].

Anatomical context of Karnofsky Performance Status

• Nineteen adults with recurrent malignant glioma (5 GBMs, and 4 anaplastic astrocytomas (AA)), Karnofsky performance status 60 or greater, were treated with intracavitary autologous LAK cells plus IL-2 after reoperation [17].
• On univariate analysis, liver cirrhosis (P = 0.003), Karnofsky performance status (P = 0.007), tumor size (P < 0.001), portal vein tumor thrombosis (P < 0.001) and alpha-fetoprotein level (P = 0.003) were shown to significantly affect survival [18].

Associations of Karnofsky Performance Status with chemical compounds

• Patients received combination chemotherapy with vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (VAC) or radiotherapy on failure to respond or at relapse, depending on their Karnofsky performance status [19].
• There were 13 males and 11 females with median age 53 (range, 33-77), median Karnofsky performance status 80 (range, 50-100), and creatinine clearance 32 to 118 ml/min [20].
• RESULTS: Thirty patients with a median Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of 90% were treated with hydrocortisone [21].
• The Karnofsky index was significantly higher by the end of the study in the thalidomide group (P = 0.003) [22].
• Health indicator scores improved significantly: mean Physical Dimension (SIP) from 5.38 to 4.1 (P < 0.005); mean Psychosocial Dimension from 9.2 to 7 (P < 0.001); mean global SIP from 8.9 to 7.25 (P < 0.001); mean Karnofsky scale score from 75.6 to 78.4 (P < 0.01) [23].

Gene context of Karnofsky Performance Status

• In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, only the pretreatment serum level of VEGF, the Karnofsky performance status, and the presence of bone metastases were identified as independent prognostic factors [24].
• The studied factors were: age, gender, tumour differentiation, tumour volume, initial hemoglobin level, karnofsky index (KI), primary tumour location, T, N, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) level in the tumour (fmol/mg protein) [25].
• PAI-1 also correlated positively with patient age (p = 0.05) and negatively with Karnofsky index (p = 0.01) [26].
• Ghrelin significantly increased Karnofsky performance status score and the distance walked in 6 min (370 +/- 30 to 432 +/- 35 m; p < 0.05), although it did not significantly alter pulmonary function [27].
• There was no difference in age at diagnosis, Karnofsky performance status, interval between diagnosis to SCH 58500, prior cycles or regimen of chemotherapy, platinum-free interval, percent platinum refractory patients, pretreatment CA125, or largest tumor volume between groups [28].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Karnofsky Performance Status

• Both groups, 62 patients with locoregional therapy failure and 77 patients with locoregionally control led tumors, were comparable in regard to performance status (Karnofsky index), age, gender, TNM-categories, histological differentiation, drinking habits, pretherapeutic diagnostics, total dose (Gy), and number of simultaneous chemotherapy cycles [29].
• Quality of life was assessed at baseline before EPO treatment and after 3 and 6 months of follow-up, using the Karnofsky scale (KS) and the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) questionnaire [30].
• Computer tomography tumor volume, dexamethasone requirements, Spitzer quality of life index, and Karnofsky performance status were measured pre and 1 month postradiation [31].
• In this trial, an overall increased ability to taper down on steroid dose and an improvement in Karnofsky performance status was seen in patients who were treated with radiosurgery boost as compared with patients treated with whole-brain radiotherapy alone [32].
• Using a modified Karnofsky scale, we measured the functional status of 430 patients who had been treated by hemodialysis for at least 1 year and some of whom were also receiving concomitant treatment with EPO [33].

References