ESMO-Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale for Haematologic Malignancies Version 1.0

The European Society for Medical Oncology Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (ESMO-MCBS) has been accepted as a robust tool to evaluate the magnitude of clinical benefit reported in trials for oncologic therapies. However, the scale has only been validated for solid tumors. A collaboration of ESMO and the European Hematology association has resulted in development and validation of ESMO-MCBS:H, specifically designed for hematologic malignancies. Based on results of 80 hematological trials and extensive review for feasibility and reasonableness, five amendments to ESMO-MCBS were incorporated in the ESMO-MCBS:H, concerning mainly clinical trial endpoints that differ in hematology versus solid oncology, and the very indolent nature of nevertheless incurable diseases such as follicular lymphoma, which hampers presentation of mature data.