Treatment patterns in elderly patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC): Results from an EORTC led survey

PCN378 - MINIMALLY IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES FOR INTERPRETING EORTC QLQ-C30 SCORES IN MELANOMA, BREAST CANCER AND HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS ON BEHALF OF THE EORTC BREAST, HEAD AND NECK, MELANOMA AND QUALITY OF LIFE GROUPS

Treatment patterns in older patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess patterns of care delivered to older patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC), and to analyze the use of geriatric assessment (GA) and assessment of quality of life (QoL).MATERIALS AND METHODS: Members of the head and neck cancer group and the older task force of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), members the European Head and Neck Society and members of national groups in Europe were asked to complete a questionnaire about treatment delivered, use of GA, and QoL assessment in older patients with LA-HNSCC.RESULTS: Investigators from 111 centers replied, including 90 (81.1%) academic cen…

Biases in study design, implementation, and data analysis that distort the appraisal of clinical benefit and ESMO-Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (ESMO-MCBS) scoring

BACKGROUND: The European Society for Medical Oncology-Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (ESMO-MCBS) is a validated, widely used tool developed to score the clinical benefit from cancer medicines reported in clinical trials. ESMO-MCBS scores assume valid research methodologies and quality trial implementation. Studies incorporating flawed design, implementation, or data analysis may generate outcomes that exaggerate true benefit and are not generalisable. Failure to either indicate or penalise studies with bias undermines the intention and diminishes the integrity of ESMO-MCBS scores. This review aimed to evaluate the adequacy of the ESMO-MCBS to address bias generated by flawed design, im…