ECOG Performance Status

Oken MM, Creech RH, Tormey DC, et al. Toxicity and response criteria of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Defined the ECOG performance status scale (0 fully active to 5 dead), used to stratify patients in oncology trials and to guide treatment intensity.

ECOG PS 0–1 is generally required for most cytotoxic and combination regimens and for many clinical trials; PS ≥ 3 usually favours best supportive care or single-agent, lower-intensity treatment. It correlates with the Karnofsky index and is a strong independent prognostic factor.