Increased Lung Cancer Survival Rate Observed with Web Application

Findings from a recent phase 3 study suggests that a Web-mediated follow-up application called Moovcare have the ability to improve the survival of patients with advanced lung cancer.

“Through personalized follow-up using this convenient and simple online application, we can detect complications and signs of relapse and offer appropriate care earlier,” said lead study author Dr Fabrice Denis, MD, PhD. “This approach introduces a new era of follow-up in which patients can give and receive continuous feedback between visits to their oncologist.”

In the study, presented at the 2016 American society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, researchers evaluated the association and evolution of self-reported symptoms over time. The study included 133 patients with stage 3 or 4 lung cancer and were randomized to either receive Web-mediated follow-up or standard follow-up, which included physician visits and CT scans.

Patients included were already treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery. Patients using the Web-application had the same amount of physician visits, but less CT scans.

Patients or their caregivers would assess their symptoms weekly and the application reported results to an oncologist, according to the study. The application used an algorithm to detect symptom changes and emailed the physician who then scheduled additional exams and visits to modify treatment.

Researchers found that 75% of patients in the Web-application group and 49% of patients in the standard follow-up group were still alive after 1 year. Relapse occurred in 49% of patients in the standard follow-up group and 51% of patients in the Web-application group.

Researchers also found that 74% of patients in the Web-application group were well enough to receive treatment for recurrence, while only one-third of patients in the standard follow-up group were able to do so.

Patients in the Web-application group reported higher quality of life through questionnaires. These patients also had a 50% reduction in imaging tests per patient per year, according to the study.

Researchers concluded that reviewing the reported symptoms from the Web-application group did not add any additional strain on physicians and it typically took them 15 minutes for 60 patients per week.