The Promise of PROs in Molecular Tumor Boards

This underlying work calls for the collaborative integration of Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) into healthcare systems, with a focus on Molecular Tumor Boards (MTBs) as a starting point. PROs, which capture patients’ perspectives on their health, treatment and subjective therapeutic benefit, and quality of life, have the potential to support precision oncology by enriching clinical decision-making and improving patient-centered care. To achieve this, our work outlines key values of PROs, including their ability to empower patients, provide real time feedback, enhance clinical workflows, and drive innovation in healthcare technology. It also acknowledges the challenges, such as regulatory hurdles, technical barriers, and the need for interoperability, data security, and sustainable implementation models. To date, most PROs are collected within clinical trials or research projects. To expand their full potential, a central and visible integration into the patients’ treatment journey in routine care is critical but lacking so far in MTBs. This work emphasizes the need for cross-sector collaboration, urging i) policymakers to adapt frameworks like the “German Hospital Future Act” and align with international standards, ii) industry stakeholders to prioritize the development of unified open interfaces and patient-friendly tools, and iii) clinicians to demand the integration of PROs into clinical workflows and advocate for supportive training and tools. Highlighting existing initiatives, such as PM4Onco, our work calls for a unified strategy to extend PRO implementation beyond oncology into broader domains, such as organ boards and chronic disease management. By uniting stakeholders in healthcare, industry, and policy, we envision a future where PROs are seamlessly integrated into care delivery, simplifying patient voices and advancing precision medicine.