EORTC

26/08/2026

Part five of our EORTC Cancer Research Fund (ECRF) 50th anniversary story is live.

For 50 years, ECRF’s journey has been shaped by people: leaders, Trustees, Advisors, donors and partners who have helped make progress in cancer research possible.

From 220,000 patients enrolled in EORTC clinical research to more than 240 fellowships awarded, this is a story of what science and philanthropy can achieve together.

👉 Read the latest chapter: https://www.eortcresearchfund.org/2026/08/25/fifty-years-of-science-made-possible-by-people/

Missed Part four? Catch up here: https://www.eortcresearchfund.org/2026/08/07/the-honorary-presidents-a-thread-of-commitment/

25/08/2026

🗣️ Understanding life after cancer

Surviving cancer is about more than being disease-free. Many people continue to experience physical, emotional and social changes long after treatment ends.

A new international study led by the EORTC Quality of Life Group validates the EORTC QLQ‑SURV100, a questionnaire designed to better understand and measure those experiences, helping researchers and healthcare professionals support cancer survivors worldwide.

🔗 https://www.eortc.org/blog/2026/08/25/new-eortc-questionnaire-for-cancer-survivors/

17/08/2026

📣 The 400th patient has been randomized

Just six months ago, we celebrated reaching the first 100 patients in the De-Escalate Project. Today, we are delighted to share that Institut Bergonié (Bordeaux, France) recruited the 400th randomized patient, bringing us to one quarter of our overall target of 1,600!

With 400 patients now involved, DE-ESCALATE is another step closer to generating evidence on how prostate cancer treatment can be safely de-escalated while maintaining effectiveness, reducing the burden of treatment, and ultimately improving patients’ quality of life.

This progress reflects the commitment of the participating clinical sites, investigators, study teams, and the patients who make this research possible.

EORTC, European Commission, European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)

Europa Uomo - The European Prostate Cancer Coalition Cancer Trials Ireland, , Unicancer, SOGUG - Grupo Español de Oncologia Genitourinaria

12/08/2026

Congratulations to the authors and the DE-ESCALATE consortium on this new publication in European Urology.

Revisiting an important question in metastatic prostate cancer care, the paper presents the rationale and design of EORTC 2238 DE-ESCALATE, a phase III trial evaluating intermittent maximal androgen blockade in the era of modern intensified treatment.

We are pleased to support this important international research effort.

📢 New publication from the De-Escalate Project!

Advances in treatment mean that metastatic prostate cancer can increasingly be managed as a long-term condition for some patients. As people live longer with the disease, reducing the cumulative toxicity and burden of continuous treatment becomes increasingly important.
For metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), contemporary treatments can significantly extend progression-free and overall survival.

However, treatment is usually continued until the cancer progresses, potentially exposing patients to prolonged toxicity, including cardiovascular and metabolic complications, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, falls, fractures, and sexual dysfunction.
Intermittent androgen deprivation therapy was investigated as a strategy to reduce treatment-related toxicity while maintaining oncologic efficacy. Three randomized trials in metastatic disease suggested similar survival outcomes with intermittent and continuous therapy, although non-inferiority was not consistently demonstrated. That is why the DE-ESCALATE trial is necessary.

EORTC 2238 DE-ESCALATE is a first-of-its-kind international, pragmatic phase 3 trial that revisits intermittent treatment in the modern era of intensified therapy. It is investigating whether selected patients who achieve a deep prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response can safely pause maximal androgen blockade.
The goal is to determine whether intermittent treatment can preserve survival while reducing toxicity and treatment burden, extending treatment-free time, improving quality of life, and lowering healthcare costs.

Our new publication in European Urology presents the trial design and its potential to reshape the long-term management of mHSPC.
🔗 Read the publication: https://lnkd.in/d6NCfYhx

EORTC European Commission Cancer Trials Ireland Europa Uomo - The European Prostate Cancer Coalition SOGUG - Grupo Español de Oncologia Genitourinaria

10/08/2026

Part four of our EORTC Cancer Research Fund (ECRF) 50th anniversary story is live.

Throughout ECRF’s history, our Honorary Presidents have played a key role in championing the Fund’s mission and supporting the advancement of cancer research.

From H.R.H Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, to H.R.H. Princess Dina Mired of Jordan today, each has brought their commitment and influence to help strengthen EORTC’s impact across Europe and beyond.

👉 Read the latest chapter: https://www.eortcresearchfund.org/2026/08/07/the-honorary-presidents-a-thread-of-commitment/

Missed Part three? Catch up here: https://www.eortcresearchfund.org/2026/06/19/building-on-strong-foundations/

05/08/2026

Financing independent clinical cancer research matters.

Through strategic investment in research, support for researchers and patients, and the development of high-quality evidence, EORTC's work continues helping advance clinical cancer research and inform better patient care.

🔗 Explore the Annual Report 2025: https://www.eortc.org/annual-report/

31/07/2026

🎗️ Tomorrow is World Lung Cancer Day. We're highlighting a recent publication which emphasises the value of integrating the patient perspective into the evaluation of lung cancer treatments.

This new study, led by Lotte Van der Weijst and published in Lung Cancer, found that the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-LC29 questionnaires capture many of the most common patient-reported symptomatic adverse events associated with systemic treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The findings support the use of patient-reported outcome (PRO) tools alongside clinician-reported adverse event assessments to better understand treatment safety and tolerability.

Congratulations to the authors and the EORTC Quality of Life Group and Lung Cancer Group on this publication.

Read the article: https://www.eortc.org/publications/

31/07/2026

🗣️ Giving patients a voice in cancer care

For almost five decades, the EORTC Quality of Life Group (QLG) has worked to make the patient perspective an essential part of cancer research and care.

Published in the European Journal of Cancer, this paper led by Kelly de Ligt reflects on the QLG's achievements to date and outlines future priorities in patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including digital innovation, patient engagement, global outreach and the use of quality of life data to support healthcare decision-making.

🔗 Read more: https://qol.eortc.org/eortc-qlg-outlines-achievements-and-future-priorities/

29/07/2026

📄 New EORTC Quality of Life Group publication

Published in Gynecologic Oncology, this study led by Ligita Paskeviciute Froeding reports the development and cross‑cultural pre‑testing of the EORTC QLQ‑VU34, a new questionnaire designed to assess quality of life in women with v***a cancer.

Testing across 9 countries demonstrated high relevance, acceptability and comprehensiveness, supporting its future use in research and clinical practice.

🔗 https://www.eortc.org/publications/

27/07/2026

How are outcomes measured in oncology pragmatic clinical trials?

👉 A new review published in the European Journal of Cancer and led by EORTC analysed 53 randomised pragmatic oncology trials and found that surrogate endpoints remain the most commonly used primary endpoints, ahead of overall survival and quality of life.

The findings highlight the need for future pragmatic trials to prioritise patient-centred outcomes and provide clear justification when surrogate measures are used.

Congratulations to the team behind this important contribution to pragmatic and patient-centred cancer research.

🔗 Read more: https://www.eortc.org/publications/