The OPTIMAL Study: a prospective cohort of patients with bone metastases of the long bones

Bone metastases arise in 50% of all patients diagnosed with carcinoma,
increasing up to 70% in patients with breast and prostate cancer. The lesions
can cause pain and fractures, leading to diminished quality of life and poorer
survival. Current knowledge concerning adequate, personalized treatment of
metastatic lesions of the long bones in patients with disseminated cancer is
insufficient and inconclusive due to lack of large, prospective series with
patient reported outcome measures.

The OPTIMAL cohort aims to describe the quality of life and pain perception of
patients after local treatment (radiotherapy and/or surgery) of metastases of
the long bones, for both the entire cohort as well as for specific treatments
separately. With this a more personalized treatment for metastases in the long
bones based on expected survival and impending fracture risk can be provided in
order to improve functioning and the quality of life for the remaining lifetime
in patients with disseminated cancer.

Observational, prospective, multicentre cohort study.

Patients in the OPTIMAL cohort will perhaps not directly benefit from their
participation. Participation will contribute to deriving patient-specific
treatment modalities for future patients with bone metastases of the long
bones. Risks associated with participation in the prospective cohort are
considered negligible due to the observational nature of the study. The burden
for the patients lies in completion of questionnaires, which is considered to
be in proportion with the potential value of this research.