Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41491296›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neuro-oncology2026

Patient-reported outcomes as prognostic indicators for overall survival and progression-free survival in brain tumor patients - a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Sai Sanikommu, Alejandro N Santos, Christoph Wipplinger, Bashar Dawoud, Ricardo J Komotar, Victor M Lu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neuro-oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Sai SanikommuDepartment of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA. vms136@miami.edu.
Alejandro N SantosDepartment of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
Christoph WipplingerDepartment of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic, Weston, FL, USA.
Bashar DawoudDepartment of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
Ricardo J KomotarDepartment of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
Victor M LuDepartment of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly recognized as essential endpoints in neuro-oncology, yet their prognostic value for survival across brain tumor trials remains incompletely defined. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the association between key PRO domains and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS)in patients with glioma.

methodsFollowing PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we included randomized controlled trials that reported baseline PROs using the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 or European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brain Neoplasm-20 questionnaires, with corresponding survival outcomes. Hazard ratios (HRs) per 10-point increase in each PRO domain were extracted. Random-effects models generated pooled HRs. Heterogeneity, risk of bias (ROB 2), and certainty of evidence (GRADE) were assessed.

resultsEight trials comprising 6,846 patients were included. Higher baseline cognitive functioning was significantly associated with improved OS (HR = 0.94, 95% CI [0.91–0.97]), as was physical functioning (HR = 0.97, 95% CI [0.94-1.00]). Pooled functional domains showed a protective association (HR = 0.96, 95% CI [0.93-1.00]), while BN-20 domains showed no association with overall survival. Pooled analysis of studies reporting EORTC QLQ-C30 scales was associated with improved PFS (HR = 0.99, 95% CI [0.99–0.99]). Subgroup analysis of physical functioning showed an association with improved PFS (HR = 0.99, 95% CI [0.97-1.0]), and the pooled analysis of all functional scales showed the same direction (HR = 0.99, 95% CI [0.99–0.99]).

conclusionsFunctional and cognitive PRO domains appear to have potential to be robust prognostic markers of survival in glioma trials, and these findings support the complementary role of PROs alongside clinical, radiographic, and molecular measures. Our findings support integrating PROs into response assessment selection in future neuro-oncology trials.

Indexed as

Brain NeoplasmsPatient Reported Outcome MeasuresHumansPrognosisProgression-Free SurvivalQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicBrain tumorsGlioblastomaMeta-analysisPatient-reported outcomesPrognosisRandomized clinical trialsSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41491296
PMCPMC12769703

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.