Quality of life and psychological outcomes with albumin-bound paclitaxel-carboplatin versus solvent-based paclitaxel-carboplatin as first-line chemotherapy in stage IC–IV ovarian carcinoma

Background Declining psychological well-being and health-related quality of life represent an understudied burden in the treatment of ovarian cancer, caused by the disease and its chemotherapy. Objective To compare quality of life using the ovarian cancer-specific module (EORTC QLQ-OV28) and depression severity using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) in a pre-specified secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing nab-paclitaxel-carboplatin and solvent-based paclitaxel-carboplatin as first-line chemotherapy for Stage IC–IV ovarian carcinoma over 12 months. Methods Pre-specified secondary analysis of a prospective, open-label, parallel-arm, exploratory randomized controlled trial registered (CTRI/2024/05/067283). Seventy-four patients were randomized 1:1 to Group A(nab-paclitaxel) ( n = 38) or Group B(sb-paclitaxel) ( n = 36). EORTC QLQ-OV28 and HDRS were administered at baseline ( prior to administration of the first chemotherapy cycle ), 6 months, and 12 months. Results Gastrointestinal symptom burden declined significantly within both groups over 12 months (within-group p = 0.001), with no significant between-group difference. Peripheral neuropathy showed no significant between-group differences at any timepoint (baseline p = 0.054; 6 m p = 0.36; 12 m p = 0.056), with both groups reaching near-zero scores by 12 months. Sexual functioning scores were comparable at baseline p = 0.86, 6 m p = 0.63; 12 m p = 0.67. HDRS scores showed no significant between-group differences at any timepoints, with significant within-group improvement by 12 months in both groups. Conclusion Both regimens were associated with improvements in quality of life over 12 months. Nab-paclitaxel-carboplatin demonstrated a favorable quality-of-life profile, particularly with respect to chemotherapy-related side effects, while other quality-of-life domains were comparable between the treatment groups.