Quality of Life Measures in Advanced Endometrial Cancer: A Systematic Review of Reporting Practices in Phase III Clinical Trials

<b>Background:</b> Advanced endometrial cancer is associated with poor survival. With the advent of molecular classification and novel systemic therapies-including immunotherapy and targeted agents-treatment regimens have become increasingly complex. While these approaches aim to improve survival, they also potentially introduce long-term toxicities and treatment burden, reinforcing the importance of incorporating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) into clinical trials. <b>Methods:</b> A systematic review was conducted of phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in advanced, recurrent, or metastatic endometrial cancer evaluating systemic treatment registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and published up to 30 November 2025. Extracted data included study characteristics, HRQoL instruments, reporting formats, adherence to CONSORT-PRO, and timing of HRQoL dissemination (relative to primary efficacy reports). <b>Results:</b> Eight phase III RCTs published between 2020 and 2024 were included. Although HRQoL was consistently designated as a secondary endpoint, reporting within pivotal efficacy publications was limited. Most reports presented mean changes from baseline using the EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-EN24, and EQ-5D-5L. None of the primary reports reported time-to-deterioration analyses or the proportions of patients improving/deteriorating. Adherence to CONSORT-PRO was low, with only a minority of items addressed. Dedicated QoL publications were delayed by up to 25 months after primary efficacy reports and typically appeared in journals with lower impact factors. <b>Conclusions:</b> Despite routine inclusion of HRQoL measures in trial protocols, reporting remains inconsistent, limited in scope, and often delayed. Strengthening adherence to established frameworks is essential to ensure that HRQoL endpoints are predefined, analytically robust, and disseminated alongside efficacy data-particularly in a rapidly evolving therapeutic landscape.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Cancers
Published
2026-01-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18020258
Primary Topic
Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Quality of Life Measures in Advanced Endometrial Cancer: A Systematic Review of Reporting Practices in Phase III Clinical Trials

Emiel A. De Jaeghere, Marjolein R. P. Orije, Justine Himpe, Katrien Vandecasteele et al.
Cancers
Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments
article

Quality of Life Measures in Advanced Endometrial Cancer: A Systematic Review of Reporting Practices in Phase III Clinical Trials

Emiel A. De Jaeghere, Marjolein R. P. Orije, Justine Himpe, Katrien Vandecasteele, Hannelore Denys
article en

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Advanced endometrial cancer is associated with poor survival. With the advent of molecular classification and novel systemic therapies-including immunotherapy and targeted agents-treatment regimens have become increasingly complex. While these approaches aim to improve survival, they also potentially introduce long-term toxicities and treatment burden, reinforcing the importance of incorporating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) into clinical trials. <b>Methods:</b> A systematic review was conducted of phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in advanced, recurrent, or metastatic endometrial cancer evaluating systemic treatment registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and published up to 30 November 2025. Extracted data included study characteristics, HRQoL instruments, reporting formats, adherence to CONSORT-PRO, and timing of HRQoL dissemination (relative to primary efficacy reports). <b>Results:</b> Eight phase III RCTs published between 2020 and 2024 were included. Although HRQoL was consistently designated as a secondary endpoint, reporting within pivotal efficacy publications was limited. Most reports presented mean changes from baseline using the EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-EN24, and EQ-5D-5L. None of the primary reports reported time-to-deterioration analyses or the proportions of patients improving/deteriorating. Adherence to CONSORT-PRO was low, with only a minority of items addressed. Dedicated QoL publications were delayed by up to 25 months after primary efficacy reports and typically appeared in journals with lower impact factors. <b>Conclusions:</b> Despite routine inclusion of HRQoL measures in trial protocols, reporting remains inconsistent, limited in scope, and often delayed. Strengthening adherence to established frameworks is essential to ensure that HRQoL endpoints are predefined, analytically robust, and disseminated alongside efficacy data-particularly in a rapidly evolving therapeutic landscape.

CancersVol. 18(2)
Ghent University Hospital (BE), Cancer Research Institute Ghent (BE)
No poverty
Openalex Percentile: Top 89%
Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.