progression-free survival
Also written as: PFS — Progression-Free Survival
A clinical trial endpoint measuring time from treatment start to disease progression or death, requiring precise statistical presentation.
Full Definition
Progression-free survival (PFS) is a clinical endpoint that measures the length of time during and after treatment that a patient lives with the disease but it does not get worse. In neuro-oncology, PFS assessment is complicated by pseudoprogression, radiation necrosis, and the challenges of neuroimaging interpretation. Editors must ensure accurate presentation of PFS data, including confidence intervals, median values, and the specific criteria used for progression assessment (typically RANO criteria for brain tumors).
Usage
Usage note: Always specify the assessment criteria used; include confidence intervals when reporting median PFS values.
In Context
- "The median progression-free survival was 6.9 months in the experimental arm versus 4.2 months in the control group." — Clinical trial results publication
- "Progression-free survival was assessed according to RANO criteria with central radiologic review." — Study methodology section