Samsung Seoul Hospital Cancer Center Partners with European Cancer Research Network to Establish Standards for 'Patient-Reported Outcomes'

First Official PRO Partnership in Asia:
"Korea to Lead Standardization of Patient-Reported Indicators"

Expanded Participation in Global Clinical Research
Cancer Treatment Paradigm Shifts Toward 'Quality of Life'

The Cancer Center at Samsung Seoul Hospital is partnering with the European cancer research network to establish standards for patient-reported outcomes (PRO). This signifies that Korea has laid the foundation to lead global research trends in quality of life-based patient evaluation systems.

On March 25, the Cancer Center at Samsung Seoul Hospital announced that it had signed a patient-reported outcomes agreement with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Through this agreement, Samsung Seoul Hospital will participate as EORTC's official collaborating institution in Korea. This marks the first time that an Asian country is collaborating with EORTC with PRO as the sole topic.

Samsung Seoul Hospital Cancer Center exterior. Samsung Seoul Hospital

Under the agreement, Samsung Seoul Hospital will be responsible for the entire process of standardization and quality management of Korean-style PRO tools. The hospital will systematically collect data on self-reported symptoms and quality of life from patients, laying the foundation to utilize these data in both clinical practice and research.

PRO is an indicator that quantifies health conditions experienced by patients, such as pain, fatigue, and anxiety. It is used for assessing treatment effectiveness and planning treatment strategies, and in recent years has been widely applied in clinical trials and medical practice in the United States and Europe.

This collaboration is also expected to expand opportunities for Korean medical institutions to participate in global clinical research. Through the EORTC network, participation in multinational clinical trials becomes possible, and Korea's role in international joint research is expected to grow.

EORTC, established in 1962, is a multinational cancer research organization with participation from hundreds of institutions across over 60 countries worldwide. It has been a leading organization in setting international standards for patient quality of life and patient-centered research.

The background to this collaboration is the increasing international competitiveness of Korean hospitals. According to Newsweek's evaluation of global cancer hospitals, the Cancer Center at Samsung Seoul Hospital ranked third in the world. The recent research trend emphasizing not only survival rates but also quality of life in cancer treatment is also seen as a contributing factor.

In 2024, Samsung Seoul Hospital established the 'Cancer Patient Quality of Life Research Institute' to expand related research. The hospital has also continued international collaboration, including joint seminars with Charite Hospital in Germany.

Kim Heecheol, Director of the Cancer Center at Samsung Seoul Hospital, stated, "This is a case where the research capabilities of Korean medicine and patient-centered care have been internationally recognized," adding, "Based on PRO collaboration, we will also strengthen our competitiveness in new drug development and clinical research."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.