Integration of early palliative care in cancer treatment: a meta-analysis of 39 randomized controlled trials on clinical outcomes and management optimization.
Support Care CancerSep 19, 2026 (epub)
Zhenyang Long, Yuqi Zhao
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis of 39 randomized controlled trials involving 8399 cancer patients evaluated the impact of early palliative care (EPC) on quality of life (QoL) and survival outcomes. The study found that EPC significantly improved QoL (SMD = 0.30, p < 0.001) and suggested a potential survival benefit (HR = 0.84, p < 0.001).
Key findings
- EPC significantly improved QoL with a standardized mean difference of 0.30 (95% CI 0.25-0.35, p < 0.001).
- An exploratory survival benefit was observed with a hazard ratio of 0.84 (95% CI 0.78-0.90, p < 0.001).
- The results were consistent across various cancer types and regions.
- Most trials included were of low risk of bias and primarily conducted in North America and Europe.
Why it matters
Integrating early palliative care into cancer treatment may enhance patients' quality of life and potentially improve survival, highlighting the importance of holistic approaches in oncology.
What to keep in mind
Findings regarding overall survival and generalizability to low- and middle-income countries should be interpreted with caution.