overall survival
Also written as: OS — Overall Survival
Time from treatment initiation or randomization until death from any cause, the gold standard endpoint in cancer clinical trials.
Full Definition
Overall survival (OS) is considered the most reliable and clinically meaningful endpoint in oncology research, measuring the time from a defined starting point (such as treatment initiation or study randomization) until death from any cause. Unlike disease-specific endpoints, OS captures the complete impact of treatment on patient longevity without requiring assumptions about cause of death. This endpoint is highly valued by regulatory agencies and is often considered the definitive measure of treatment benefit. OS data is typically presented using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and analyzed using statistical methods such as the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards models.
Usage
Usage note: Spell out 'overall survival' on first use, then 'OS' is acceptable; always specify the starting point for survival measurement.
In Context
- "The median overall survival was 24.5 months in the experimental arm." — Clinical trial results
- "Overall survival data requires long-term patient follow-up and careful vital status tracking." — Clinical research protocol