Importance of Quality of Life Endpoints in Clinical Trials

Massimo Di Maio, PhD, medical oncologist, Mauriziano Hospital, professor of medical oncology, University of Turin, discusses the importance of quality of life (QoL) endpoints in clinical trials.

QoL endpoints are becoming an integral part of modern clinical trial designs. As such, the importance of QoL in clinical trials cannot be understated, explains Di Maio. QoL data are a critical part of clinical oncology as they inform the value of a particular treatment, he says. In recent years, ASCO and the ESMO have assembled frameworks by which to assess a treatment’s utility. QoL is one such parameter that has been included in the framework, says Di Maio.

Additionally, both the FDA and the European Medicine’s Agency have emphasized the importance of including QoL data among clinical endpoints in trials. In addition to informing the value of treatment, QoL can help patients understand the risks and benefits of therapy, he concludes.