PATIENT integration in oncology research can align therapies with needs by translating science into outcomes patients value, today.
In a new opinion piece, Clark and colleagues argue that patient integration should extend beyond cancer care and into the full research pathway, from laboratory work through clinical trials. The authors describe an oncology landscape that is increasingly complex and technical, which can widen the gap between scientific advances and what matters most to people living with cancer. They suggest that earlier, more meaningful involvement of patients and caregivers could help research teams set priorities that reflect lived experience and improve patient-level translation as novel therapies evolve.
Patient Integration Across Preclinical and Clinical Research
The article notes that patient centricity is now an established expectation in clinical practice, with many patients more involved in treatment decisions. However, the authors contend that research often lags behind, with patient involvement sometimes limited to a light touch review of selected study elements. They argue for deeper partnership in which patients contribute to research questions, methods, and goals, alongside investigators and sponsors.
For preclinical research, the authors frame patient integration as a way to ensure early-stage programs stay anchored to unmet needs and meaningful endpoints. In clinical research, they emphasize that patient integration can improve how trial concepts are communicated, what outcomes are selected, and how study burden is understood, especially as treatment options and study designs become more specialized.
From Voice to Value in Drug Development
Clark and colleagues highlight the rise of the patient voice and growing willingness among patients to shape research. They describe preliminary approaches and real-world initiatives aimed at increasing patient integration in drug development, while acknowledging their piece is grounded in experience rather than a comprehensive literature review.
A key learning shared is that patients involved in research should be able to represent their communities, not only individual perspectives. The authors also stress that researchers should treat patient perceptions as equally valid, particularly when assessing outcomes such as symptoms, function, and quality of life, including patient-reported outcomes that capture what patients experience directly.
Reference: Clark S et al. Improving preclinical and clinical oncology research through patient integration. Current Medical Research and Opinion. 2026;doi:10.1080/03007995.2026.2621997.
