Integrating patient preferences into clinical trial outcomes for older adults with cancer: A perspective from the EORTC Older Adult Council and Quality of Life Group.

Older adults with cancer are underrepresented in clinical trials, limiting evidence on the impact of treatments for this growing population. Their priorities may differ from younger patients, particularly in how they evaluate trade-offs among survival, toxicity, and health-related quality of life. This perspective from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Older Adults Council and Quality of Life Group highlights the need to integrate patient preference studies into oncology trials. Embedding rigorous preference methodologies alongside conventional endpoints can clarify acceptable trade-offs, strengthen benefit-risk assessment, and ensure trial outcomes better reflect what matters most to older adults with cancer.