Rectal Cancer – organ preserving treatment (extension to CR29)
Project summary
The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) is responsible for developing quality of life (QoL) measures, across a wide range of cancers. The QLQ-CR29 module for colorectal cancer patients, published in 2009, needs updating to reflect the availability of new treatments and treatment approaches such as organ preservation and total neoadjuvant therapy. Our project will explore evidence about new treatments for colorectal cancer and to talk to patients and healthcare professionals about the aspects of treatment which affect QoL. This will allow us to update the list of QoL issues affecting patients so that the QLQ-CR29 can be updated.
Achievements
We have completed an extensive review of recently published literature to gather information relating to the effects of different types of treatments on the quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer.
We have also designed a research study which will involve interviewing patients and healthcare professionals about the effect of cancer treatments on their quality of life. This study has been reviewed by an ethics committee and will be carried out in different countries to ensure that our results apply to people across the world.
Current status:
Phase I: Scoping review and study set-up.
Future plans
May 2026 – March 2027: Patient and Healthcare professional interviews.
March – May 2027: Item issue mapping
January – July 2027: Phase 2 Item set development.
For patients
The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) develop questionnaires to understand how cancer treatments affect quality of life. The colorectal cancer questionnaire needs updating because treatments have changed. We are asking patients and healthcare professionals about the impact of these treatments on daily life so we can revise the questionnaire.