Development of recommendations for use of EORTC QLG-C30 summary score in cancer clinical trials and clinical practice
Project summary
The use of the EORTC QLQ-C30 Summary score has become widespread since its publication. Despite the possible advantages, there is an ongoing debate within the EORTC Quality of Life Group about the settings in which the summary score is appropriate. Moreover, regulatory agencies have raised concerns that a summary score may not be specific enough for research aimed at establishing labelling claims, and some clinicians question the value of a summary score for clinical practice, as it may be difficult to act upon. Therefore, more understanding is needed of the value of the EORTC QLQ-C30 summary score in both cancer clinical trials and clinical practice settings, which can subsequently be used in the development of guidelines. This project aims to provide recommendations for the use of the EORTC QLQ-C30 summary score in cancer clinical trials and clinical practice.
Achievements
Research protocol has been approved by the science committee and the ethical committee and we are currently conducting a literature review.
Future plans
Finish the literature review and start with the interviews and analysis of existing trial data.
For patients
The most commonly used questionnaire to assess health-related quality of life in cancer patients is the EORTC QLQ-C30. This questionnaire comprises multiple domains, assessing different aspects of the patients’ functioning and wellbeing. More recently, a single score has been developed that summarizes the level of functioning of these different domains (‘QLQ-C30 Summary score’). Although it has shown that this Summary score has certain advantages, there is some debate among cancer researchers in which situations this Summary score is appropriate. Also, some issues with this Summary score have been raised by doctors and the regulatory agencies. herefore, more understanding is needed of the value of the EORTC QLQ-C30 summary score in both cancer clinical trials and clinical practice settings. This project aims to provide recommendations for the use of the EORTC QLQ-C30 summary score in cancer clinical trials and clinical practice.