Researchers worldwide consider the ECOG Performance Status Scale when planning cancer clinical trials to study new treatments. This numbering scale is one way to define the population of patients to study in the trial and guide physicians who enroll patients into those studies.
Full Answer
What is the ECOG performance status in clinical trials?
Researchers worldwide take the ECOG Performance Status into consideration when planning trials to study a new treatment method. This numbering scale is one way to define the population of patients to be studied in the trial, so that it can be uniformly reproduced among physicians who enroll patients.
What is the function of the ECOG scale?
It is also a way for physicians to track changes in a patient’s level of functioning as a result of treatment during the trial. The scale was developed by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), now part of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and published in 1982.
What are ECoG and ACRIN?
ECOG and ACRIN were two highly respected National Cancer Institute-sponsored cancer cooperative groups. ECOG’s large-scale cancer treatment clinical trials changed the standard of care in numerous types of cancer and helped to individualize cancer therapy.
What is ECoG-ACRIN?
The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) is a membership-based scientific organization that designs and conducts cancer research involving adults who have or are at risk of developing cancer. We are a strong network of nearly 1300 academic and community-based cancer centers and hospitals in the United States and around the world.
What is ECOG in cancer treatment?
Determines ability of patient to tolerate therapies in serious illness, specifically for chemotherapy, simpler than the Karnofsky Scale. Patients with active cancer under treatment. The ECOG Performance Status is a simple measure of functional status.
What is ECOG score used for?
The ECOG performance status is a scale used to assess how a patient's disease is progressing, assess how the disease affects the daily living abilities of the patient, and determine appropriate treatment and prognosis (it is one of the three components that form the BCLC HCC staging).
What is the use of ECOG and Karnofsky performance status scoring in cancer patients?
The Karnofsky's index of performance status (KPS) and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status Scale (ECOG PS) are widely used methods of assessing the functional status of cancer patients. In this study, we compare their predictive validity, and suggest a table of transformation between scales.
What does ECOG 4 mean?
4. Completely disabled; cannot carry out any self-care; totally confined to bed or chair.
What is a ECOG score of 1?
ECOG/WHO Performance Status 1: Unable to do strenuous activities, but able to carry out light housework and sedentary activities. This status basically means you can't do heavy work but can do anything else.
What is performance status in oncology?
Patient PS is one of the most central factors in cancer care. It plays a role both in shaping prognosis and in determining the best treatment for a patient with cancer. Performance status is a score that estimates the patient's ability to perform certain activities of daily living (ADLs) without the help of others.
How is ECOG status calculated?
The ECOG Performance Status Scale is one such measurement....ECOG Performance Status Scale.GRADEECOG PERFORMANCE STATUS3Capable of only limited selfcare; confined to bed or chair more than 50% of waking hours4Completely disabled; cannot carry on any selfcare; totally confined to bed or chair5Dead3 more rows
What is considered poor performance status?
Patients who are able to care for themselves but are unable to perform most work-related activities are considered to have a poor performance status (PS).
What is a good Karnofsky score?
100 Normal no complaints; no evidence of disease. 90 Able to carry on normal activity; minor signs or symptoms of disease. Able to carry on normal activity and to work; no special care needed. 80 Normal activity with effort; some signs or symptoms of disease.
How do you do ECOG?
During an ECoG test:A sticker electrode is placed on the forehead and foil-covered earphones are inserted into the ear canals, which are gently cleansed beforehand.An audio stimulus is presented to the patient through the earphones.An electrode picks up cochlear activity that occurs in response to the sound.More items...
What is a medical performance status?
When describing a person's general health, trial protocols usually call it performance status. Doctors use a scale to grade how well you are. There are different versions, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) scale is the most commonly used.
Why do researchers use the ECOG scale?
This numbering scale is one way to define the population of patients to be studied in the trial, so that it can be uniformly reproduced among physicians who enroll patients. It is also a way for physicians to track changes in a patient’s level of functioning as a result of treatment during the trial.
What is the ECOG performance status?
The ECOG Performance Status and the Karnofsky Performance Status are two widely used methods to assess the functional status of a patient. Both scales have been in the public domain for many years as ways to classify a patient according to their functional impairment, compare the effectiveness of therapies, and assess the prognosis of a patient. The Karnofsky index, between 100 and 0, was introduced in a textbook in 1949.* Key elements of the ECOG scale first appeared in the medical literature in 1960.**
What is the ECOG scale?
It describes a patient’s level of functioning in terms of their ability to care for themself, daily activity, and physical ability (walking, working, etc.).
What is the meaning of "ecog"?
GRADE. ECOG PERFORMANCE STATUS. 0. Fully active, able to carry on all pre-disease performance without restriction. 1. Restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out work of a light or sedentary nature, e.g., light house work, office work. 2.
When was the ECOG scale developed?
The scale was developed by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), now part of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and published in 1982. It circulates in the public domain and is therefore available for public use.
What is an ECOG?
ECOG and ACRIN were two highly respected National Cancer Institute-sponsored cancer cooperative groups. ECOG’s large-scale cancer treatment clinical trials changed the standard of care in numerous types of cancer and helped to individualize cancer therapy.
What is the Ecog-ACRIN?
The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group is a multidisciplinary, membership-based scientific organization that designs and conducts biomarker-driven cancer research involving adults who have or are at risk of developing cancer.
What is the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group?
The Group was formed in May 2012 by a merger that combined the complementary strengths of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) in cancer therapy and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) in cancer imaging. ECOG and ACRIN were two highly respected National Cancer Institute-sponsored cancer cooperative groups. ECOG’s large-scale cancer treatment clinical trials changed the standard of care in numerous types of cancer and helped to individualize cancer therapy. ACRIN’s clinical trials encompassed the full range of medical imaging research, including the investigation of surveillance strategies in high-risk populations, imaging biomarkers in early phase trials, prevention approaches in landmark cancer screening trials, and methodologies in comparative-effectiveness research.
Where is Ecog ACRIN located?
ECOG-ACRIN consists of a headquarters location in Philadelphia and several fully staffed centers and offices. Together, personnel at these facilities oversee the governance, operations, membership, and scientific programs of the Group. There are nearly 1300 member institutions in the U.S. and around the world.
Is Ecog ACRIN a non-profit?
PrECOG LLC, a not-for-profit company that partners with ECOG-ACRIN and industry to develop and conduct clinical trials in all areas of oncology.
What is the ECOG-ACRIN?
The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) is dedicated to reducing the occurrence of cancer and improving the quality of life and survival in adults with cancer.
What is a cancer treatment blog?
Considering Clinical Trials: A Blog About Cancer Treatment Options features news, editorials, and perspectives by cancer research advocates for every community to share with your constituents. A new set of blog posts appears three to four times per year with new cancer clinical trials, ongoing studies still open and enrolling patients, and new publications of trial results, all by ECOG-ACRIN. This publication complements and expands the work of our Cancer Research Advocates Committee.
How do clinical trials help cancer patients?
Clinical trials contribute to the overall understanding of and progress against cancer. Many people treated for cancer are now living longer thanks to the knowledge gained through clinical trials.
Why is it important to participate in a clinical trial?
An important benefit of participating in a clinical trial is the high level of patient care. Patients in cancer clinical trials are usually followed more closely by their doctors and nurses, which provides patients with a high-quality experience.
Where are cancer trials conducted?
Depending upon the type of cancer treatment, trials are conducted in doctors’ offices, cancer centers, other medical centers, community hospitals and clinics, and veterans’ and military hospitals in cities and towns across the United States and around the world.
Who decides whether to participate in a cancer trial?
Although patients are the only ones who can decide whether to take part in a cancer clinical trial, the doctor and the rest of the healthcare team are important and valuable sources of balanced information about the risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial.
Why are clinical trials important?
Cancer Clinical Trials are Important. Clinical trials contribute to the overall understanding of and progress against cancer. Many people treated for cancer are now living longer thanks to the knowledge gained through clinical trials. Taking an active part in cancer clinical trials can be an empowering experience for people at risk ...
What does 0 mean in ECOG?
ECOG/WHO Performance Status. 0: Fully active, no restrictions on activities. A performance status of 0 means no restrictions in the sense that someone is able to do everything they were able to do prior to their diagnosis. 1: Unable to do strenuous activities, but able to carry out light housework and sedentary activities.
What are the performance scales for cancer?
Two primary performance scales are used to measure performance status for those living with cancer: The Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group (ECOG)/WHO system, 4 and the Karnofsky performance score. 5 The first of these ranks performance status on a scale of 0 to 5, and the second on a scale of 0 to 100. Note that these scales differ in whether a lower number or a higher number means better performance status. With the ECOG/WHO performance status, the ideal score zero, whereas with the Karnofsky performance status the ideal number is 100.
Why do oncologists ask questions?
These questions are asked as a way to determine how well you are doing with your activities of daily living, or "ADLs." 2 By evaluating these activities your healthcare provider can figure out your "performance status" and this measure of performance status can be helpful in many ways:
What is the purpose of a chemo test?
To determine if someone is in reasonable health to tolerate treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. With all cancer treatments, it's important to weigh the risks versus the benefits of treatment. For example, there may be times when chemotherapy could reduce rather than increase life expectancy. 3
Is performance status important for cancer patients?
Understanding performance status can help people with cancer and their oncologists weigh the potential benefits ...
Can low performance status limit clinical trials?
Many people become frustrated with performance status as a low performance status can limit who may be involved in a clinical trial. At the same time, this is a very helpful measure for people living with cancer.
Can lung cancer be treated with chemotherapy?
For example, people with lung cancer who have a poor performance status are more likely to experience adverse effects and have a poorer overall survival if they receive standard chemotherapy. 6 In contrast, targeted therapies, when appropriate, are much better tolerated by those who have a poor performance status.