Assessment of palliative chemotherapy: A step beyond response
Dodwell DJ., Rathmell AJ., Ash DV.
In summary, tumour response is a useful index of cytotoxic activity, but is of limited value in the assessment of benefit to the patient following treatment with cytotoxic drugs. Survival is a similarly inappropriate endpoint to assess the clinical benefits of palliative cytotoxic therapy. The widespread introduction of QL assessment as a primary outcome measure in cancer therapy will enhance our understanding of the value of a wide range of established cancer treatments, not only that of palliative chemotherapy, but also surgery and radiotherapy. © 1993 The Royal College of Radiologists.