The PROMOTION database is a registry of all cancer Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) with a Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) endpoint published since 2004. The PROMOTION database now contains information on some 1,000 PRO-RCTs conducted across a wide range of cancer specialties that have enrolled half a million of patients (see database content). 

This large international initiative, involving several key experts in quality of life and PRO research in oncology, started in April 2012 and it was initially supported in part by a research grant from the EORTC Quality of Life Group to the GIMEMA. The Project also relies on the guidance of experts, acting as Advisory Board members, and on an international network of dedicated Co-Investigators involved at different levels in the project, for example, identification of eligible studies for inclusion in the PROMOTION Registry, study evaluation, data collection and analyses.

The PROMOTION database contains several information regarding, for example, the PRO assessment methodology, the statistical design and the reported clinical and PRO results of RCTs. Such information is systematically collected and electronically archived into a password protected database. Typical data contained in the Registry are related, for example to: type of PRO instruments used, information regarding clinical significance of quality of life outcomes or details regarding the statistical approaches used to address missing quality of life data. A standardized working methodology is used and evaluation of studies that populate the database is performed using a common set of criteria across all cancer disease sites, thus allowing comparisons across all cancer areas.

Quality of life and other types of PROs are now frequently included as endpoints in cancer clinical trials. However, assessing PROs requires making a number of challenging decisions with regard to, for example, data collection, appropriate timing of assessment, adequate statistical analysis as well as outcome interpretation. Inadequate or poorly designed and reported PROs investigations in the context of RCTs, can mislead clinical decision making as it hampers a clear appraisal of the validity of the outcomes. Cancer patients, physicians and health policy makers should rely on the most solid evidence to make informed decisions. Therefore, providing the scientific community with high quality data in this area is of paramount importance.

The PROMOTION Registry was thus developed to be a source of information to possibly answer a number of research questions revolving around the use and the added value of PROs assessment in cancer research.