disease-free survival
Time from treatment completion until disease recurrence or death from any cause.
Full Definition
Disease-free survival (DFS) is a critical oncological endpoint measuring the duration from achieving complete remission or completing curative treatment until disease recurrence or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. This endpoint is particularly important in adjuvant therapy trials and curative treatment settings. DFS is considered a surrogate endpoint for overall survival in many cancer types, as it captures the benefit of preventing disease recurrence. The definition may vary slightly between cancer types and treatment contexts, with some studies using relapse-free survival or recurrence-free survival as similar but distinct endpoints.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from progression-free survival, which applies to metastatic settings rather than curative contexts.
In Context
- "The primary endpoint was disease-free survival at three years post-surgery." — Adjuvant therapy trial protocol
- "Disease-free survival was significantly improved with extended adjuvant therapy." — Clinical trial primary analysis