Samsung Medical Center’s Cancer Hospital is spearheading efforts to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients in Korea through a groundbreaking partnership with Europe.
The hospital announced on Wednesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Europe’s largest cancer research network, as the official Korean collaborator for patient-reported outcomes (PRO).
This collaboration marks EORTC’s first official partnership with an Asian country focusing solely on PRO. The hospital will oversee the entire process of standardization and quality management for the Korean version of the EORTC PRO tool.
As Korea’s pioneer in specialized cancer care, the hospital has established a patient-centered, comprehensive cancer care system that integrates diagnosis, treatment, research, and patient support.
Since its inception, the institution has prioritized not only treatment outcomes but also patient experiences and quality of life as core elements of treatment success.
This patient-centered approach and PRO-based research capabilities align with European cancer research’s emphasis on cancer patients’ quality of life, paving the way for the collaboration with EORTC.
EORTC, founded in 1962 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, boasts a multinational clinical research network involving institutions from 30 European countries and hundreds worldwide.
The organization is renowned for setting international standards in cancer patient quality of life and patient-centered research.
PRO enables objective and quantitative measurement of patients’ actual health experiences, including physical and mental symptoms such as nausea, pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, as well as changes in daily functioning.
Patients use PRO to self-report their health status, aiding in treatment planning, effectiveness evaluation, and communication with healthcare providers.
The utility and importance of PRO have been well-established through numerous studies, leading to its widespread adoption in clinical trials and real-world clinical settings across the U.S. and Europe.
Experts believe this collaboration positions Korea to co-lead global cancer research, which has traditionally been dominated by the U.S. and Europe.
Korea’s official participation in EORTC’s research network is expected to expand opportunities for involvement in large-scale multinational clinical trials and enhance the role and influence of Korean hospitals in international collaborative research.
The partnership between EORTC and the hospital reflects the rising global prominence of Korean hospitals in recent years.
In Newsweek’s latest global cancer hospital rankings, Samsung Medical Center’s Cancer Hospital secured the third spot worldwide, with three Korean hospitals breaking into the top ten.
Moreover, EORTC’s interest in Korea stems from the country’s growing focus on research and investment in cancer patients’ quality of life, moving beyond mere treatment outcomes.
In 2024, the hospital, in collaboration with Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, established the Quality of Life Research Institute for Cancer Patients, dedicating efforts to developing research and support programs aimed at enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients throughout their journey.
Additionally, beginning in 2024, the hospital will conduct bimonthly joint seminars on PRO with Germany’s Charité hospital, further expanding international cooperation.
Dr. Kim Hee-cheol, director of the Cancer Hospital, expressed that this collaboration, initiated through PRO, will serve as a springboard to strengthen Korea’s medical presence globally and boost competitiveness in new drug development and clinical research.