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Performance status In medicine ( oncology and other fields), performance status is an attempt to quantify cancer patients ' general well-being and activities of daily life. This measure is used to determine whether they can receive chemotherapy , whether dose adjustment is necessary, and as a measure for the required intensity of palliative care .
The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) began in 1955 as one of the first publicly funded cooperative groups to perform multi-center clinical trials for cancer research. [1] A cooperative group in oncology constitutes a large network of private and public medical institutions developing protocols for cancer treatments.
There were four factors found to have independent prognostic relevance: age, performance status, LDH, and white blood cell count (WBC). [4] The point values are assigned as follows: 0 points: Age less than 50 years, ECOG performance status of 0–1, LDH less than 0.67 of the upper limit of normal, or WBC of less than 6,700 cells/mcl
The duration of overall response is measured from the time measurement criteria are met for CR or PR (whichever status is recorded first) until the first date that recurrence or PD is objectively documented, taking as reference for PD the smallest measurements recorded since the treatment started.
The WHO rankings are claimed to have been subject to many and varied criticisms since its publication. [citation needed] Concerns raised over the five factors considered, data sets used and comparison methodologies have led health bodies and political commentators in most of the countries on the list to question the efficacy of its results and validity of any conclusions drawn.
This is based on an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study that found that adding bevacizumab to carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy for certain patients with recurrent or advanced NSCLC (stage IIIB or IV) may increase both overall survival and progression-free survival.
As with most forms of cancer, performance status (i.e. the general physical condition and activity level of the person) plays a major role in prognosis as well. [ 82 ] For people in remission after induction chemotherapy , residual leukemic cells ( minimal residual disease ) are associated with higher relapse rates and decreased survival. [ 83 ]
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for global public health. [2] It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has six regional offices [3] and 150 field offices worldwide.