The Reporting, Use, and Validity of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Multiple Myeloma in Clinical Trials: A Systematic Literature Review

Simple Summary In multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, the measurement of the outcomes of treatment reported by patients (patient-reported outcome measurement) is useful to reveal how treatment affects the quality of life, symptoms, and side effects of treatment to evaluate the benefit-risk balance of a particular drug or drug combination. We evaluated the research reported in the literature to identify and evaluate patient-reported outcome measures used in clinical trials. The most frequently used instrument was the generic questionnaire, named EORTC QLQ-30, used for cancer patients. The second most frequently used tools were the multiple myeloma-specific EORTC-MY20 questionnaires and the generic EQ-5D. Only 19 instruments reported in the literature were consistent with the trial design. The findings indicate that the measurement of patient-reported outcomes in clinical trials for multiple myeloma patients is underutilised, underreported, and often inconsistent. Thus, guidelines for the appropriate use and reporting of such questionnaires are needed to ensure standardisation in the selection and reporting of patients' views. This report is a valuable reference for the appropriate use of questionnaires for professionals performing clinical trials to ensure accurate and appropriate reporting of results for multiple myeloma patients and their caregivers and patient advocates. Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are becoming increasingly important in supporting clinical outcomes in clinical trials. In multiple myeloma (MM), PRO measurement is useful to reveal how treatment affects physical, psychosocial, and functional behaviour as well as symptoms and treatment-related adverse events to evaluate the benefit-risk ratio of a particular drug or drug combination. We report the types of PRO instruments used in MM, the frequency in which they are utilised in randomised controlled trials (RCTs), and the consistency of their reporting. Methods: The European Hematology Association (EHA) supports the development of guidelines for the use of PROs in adult patients with haematological malignancies. The first step is the present systematic review of the literature. MEDLINE and CENTRAL were searched for RCTs in MM between 2015 and 2020. Study design, characteristics of MM and its treatment, the primary outcomes, and the types of PRO instrument(s) were extracted using a predefined template. Additionally, in a stepwise approach, it was assessed whether the identified instruments had been validated for multiple myeloma patients, patients with haematological malignancies, or cancer patients. Results: Following screening for RCTs, 283 studies were included for review from 10,707 records retrieved, and 118 of these planned the use of PRO measures. Thirty-eight PRO instruments were reported. The most frequently used instrument (92 studies) was the EORTC QLQ-30. The EORTC-MY20 MM-specific questionnaire was the second most frequently used (50 studies), together with the EQ-5D (50 studies). Only 19 PRO instruments reported were consistent with the trial registry. Furthermore, in 58 publications, the information on PRO instruments differed between the publication and the trial registry. Further, information on PRO in HTA reports was available for 26 studies, of which 18 reports were consistent with the trial registries. Out of the 38 instruments used, six had been validated for patients with multiple myeloma (the most frequently used), six for patients with haematological malignancies, and 10 for cancer patients in general. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the measurement of PROs in RCTs for MM is underutilised, underreported, and often inconsistent. Guidelines for the appropriate use of PROs in MM are needed to ensure standardisation in selection and reporting. Furthermore, not all PRO instruments identified have been validated for myeloma patients or patients with haematological malignancies. Thus, guidelines for the appropriate use and reporting of PROs are needed in MM to ensure standardisation in the selection and reporting of PROs.