NEWS

In April, EORTC proudly announced the release of a landmark publication outlining its comprehensive strategy for the measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in oncology.

The article by Claire Piccinin et al.¹, published in the European Cancer Journal (EJC), provides a detailed overview of the historical development of the EORTC Quality of Life Group’s (QLG) approach to PRO measurement and offers recommendations for integrating these tools into clinical trials and routine care, aligning with regulatory and health technology assessment (HTA) standards.

The EORTC QLG has played a pivotal role in the development and global adoption of robust PRO measures, starting with the widely used Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) in the early 1990’s. This quickly led to a ‘core + module’ strategy with the development of disease- and treatment-specific questionnaires, called modules. With the rapid evolution and increasing complexity of cancer therapies, more diverse patient needs, and the broader implementation of PROs across clinical and research settings, the EORTC QLG has responded with a forward-thinking strategy designed to enhance flexibility, precision, and relevance in PRO assessment in oncology.

At the core of this expanded strategy are two transformative innovations:

• The EORTC CAT Core: A computer-adaptive testing (CAT) version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 that selects tailored questions based on patients’ responses, increasing precision while reducing burden;
• The EORTC Item Library: A dynamic online platform containing over 1,000 validated items (questions) from 75 questionnaires, allowing users to create customised item lists tailored to specific clinical or research needs.

Looking ahead

“The future of cancer care must reflect the complexity of treatment and the individuality of patients’ experiences,” said Claire Piccinin, from EORTC and lead author. “This updated strategy ensures that the tools we use to assess quality of life remain scientifically rigorous, clinically meaningful, and responsive to patients’ voices,” added Prof. Mogens Groenvold, co-author and co-leader of the EORTC CAT Core project.

The EORTC QLG’s integrated strategy balances cutting-edge measurement science with practical, global implementation, continuing to support high-quality research and improved outcomes for patients across all stages of cancer care.

With this strategy, EORTC aims to ensure that quality of life remains at the heart of oncology research—now and into the future.

You can also help support EORTC’s game-changing clinical research to unleash scientific breakthrough and transform cancer patients’ lives. Learn how to GET INVOLVED, or Make a Contribution Now.