Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) as Part of Value-Based Care Can Shape Therapy Guidelines: Impact on Emerging Targeted Agents and Immunotherapy Protocols in Resource-Limited Regions

Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are commonly integrated into clinical trials for new cancer therapies or treatment modalities; however, beyond a cursory review during the registration process for a new drug, these important measures of patient satisfaction and cost-effectiveness are often under-used in daily practice. We cite literature under-scoring the value of PROs not only in clinical trials, but in practical decision making and how such metrics can help guide the oncologist and the patient in choosing the best and most cost-effective therapy for their cancer. This is especially critical with the advent of new immunotherapies that are proving to be therapeutically beneficial for many patients, but not all, and at substantial cost in terms of toxicities and financial impact.