Quality of life as a new end point.

Quality of life (QOL) is a relatively new clinical end point that is particularly relevant to the typically palliative therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. Patients' assessments of their QOL are shown to differ from their physicians', emphasizing the subjective nature of QOL. A number of relevant instruments and assessment techniques are employed. Results from a study using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 instrument before and during chemotherapy are presented. Some parameters improved while others did not, preventing a simple interpretation. There are arguments for compiling indexes of QOL while retaining measures for individual parameters and a desire for the consistent international use of an instrument such as the EORTC questionnaire.