Outcomes Research in Cancer Clinical Trial Cooperative Groups: The RTOG Model

Background: The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), a National Cancer Institute sponsored cancer clinical trials research cooperative, has recently formed an Outcomes Committee to assess a comprehensive array of clinical trial endpoints and factors impacting the net effect of therapy. Methods: To study outcomes in a consistent, comprehensive and coordinated manner, the RTOG Outcomes Committee developed a model to assess clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes important in clinical trials. Results: This paper reviews how the RTOG incorporates outcomes research into cancer clinical trials, and demonstrates utilization of the RTOG Outcomes Model to test hypotheses related to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this example, the clinical component of the model indicates that the addition of chemotherapy to radiotherapy (RT) improves survival but increases the risk of toxicity. The humanistic component indicates that esophagitis is the symptom impacting quality of life the greatest and may outweigh the benefits in elderly (≥70 years) patients. The economic component of the model indicates that accounting for quality-adjusted survival, concurrent chemoRT for the treatment of NSCLC is within the range of economically acceptable recommendations. Conclusion: The RTOG Outcomes Model guides a comprehensive program of research that systematically measures a triad of endpoints considered important to clinical trials research.