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    Imaging, QoL and Patient-Reported Outcome and Supportive Care

    Category: Imaging, QoL and Patient-Reported Outcome and Supportive Care

    Update of the EORTC Quality of Life Multiple Myeloma module (EORTC QLQ-MY20). Results from the Phase I-II EORTC prospective study

    (PA-133) Update of the EORTC Quality of Life Multiple Myeloma module (EORTC QLQ-MY20). Results from the Phase I-II EORTC prospective study

    Thursday, September 18, 2025
    Introduction: The European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Myeloma module (EORTC QLQ-MY20), used alongside the EORTC QLQ-C30 core questionnaire, was published in 1999 to assess health-related quality of life in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Since its development, major advances in the MM treatment at diagnosis and following multiple subsequent relapses, have improved the survival rates. To ensure the EORTC QLQ-MY20 remains relevant and captures the disease and treatment experience, and to address limitations of the original module, a Phase I-II prospective study was conducted. Structured interviews with MM patients and MM expert healthcare professionals were conducted to inform module modification.

    Methods: The module update was conducted in accordance with the EORTC Quality of Life Group module development guidelines. Following the conduct of two literature reviews, collating a list of concepts, and identifying methodological problems with the original module, and a review of side effects of MM treatments, qualitative interviews took place with n=93 patients and n=20 healthcare professionals across Europe (7 countries) and the Middle East (1 country), to assess the relevance/importance of the concepts and to elicit any further concepts for consideration. Concepts rated as sufficiently relevant/important according to a priori criteria were used to create a conceptual framework.

    Results: 20 issues met the criteria for importance and relevance from the patient and healthcare professional interviews and were deemed to be specific to MM and/or MM treatment; 11 items were from the original QLQ-MY20 and 9 were new concepts. 9 items from the original module were removed as they were not deemed sufficiently relevant/important and/or were not specific to MM. Items were refined based on discussions with collaborators and EORTC feedback, resulting in 24 items (QLQ-MY24); a conceptual framework was developed to illustrate the groups of items hypothesized to measure similar concept/symptom domains. These groups of items included: pain, neuropathy, infection, oedema, tiredness, weight loss, ocular, oral, restlessness/agitation, and hair loss.


    Conclusions: This prospective study has identified items relevant and important to MM patients' QOL in the era of new therapeutic approaches. Next steps in phase III, will include debriefing interviews with patients with MM to identify and rectify potential problems in administration and to identify missing/redundant concepts. P<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">reliminary evaluation of psychometric properties and international validation field testing of the new proposed updated QOL module is then expected.