Leveraging the potential of prospective registries for radiation oncology research: 5\u2011year experience from the EORTC\u2011ESTRO E\u00b2\u2011RADIatE project<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Background and introduction<\/strong>
\nConducting clinical research in radiotherapy remains challenging due to the incremental nature of technological advances, the need for long-term endpoints, and the complexity of large-scale trials. To address these limitations, EORTC and ESTRO launched E\u00b2-RADIatE in 2019, aiming to complement randomised controlled trials through prospective, real-world data collection across Europe.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"radiation](\"https:\/\/project.eortc.org\/e2-radiate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/07\/eortc-estro_530x354.jpg\" "\\"eortc-estro_530x354\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Materials and methods<\/b>
\nE\u00b2-RADIatE (EORTC 1811 \u2013 NCT03818503) is a pragmatic, observational, prospective multi-cohort study with a centralised database capturing data on cancer patients, radiotherapy treatments, and outcomes. The platform includes multiple cohorts, notably OligoCare and ReCare, and supports innovative methodologies such as Trials-within-Cohorts (TWiCs).<\/p>\n
Results<\/span><\/b>
\nAfter five years, E\u00b2-RADIatE has demonstrated the feasibility of a large-scale, pan-European real-world data infrastructure. The OligoCare and ReCare cohorts are actively recruiting, contributing to insights into radiotherapy practice across Europe. The platform has enabled the generation of new research hypotheses and the implementation of novel study designs, including the first international oncology TWiCs. Strong engagement from the radiotherapy community has supported its development, while regulatory, methodological, and operational challenges remain.<\/p>\nThe E\u00b2-RADIatE experience highlights the added value of prospective registries in supporting evidence generation, methodological innovation, and clinical research in radiotherapy. While barriers persist, this approach represents a promising and scalable complement to traditional clinical trials.<\/p>\n
Background and introduction<\/strong> Materials and methods<\/b> Results<\/span><\/b> The E\u00b2-RADIatE experience highlights the added value of prospective registries in supporting evidence generation, methodological innovation, and clinical research in radiotherapy. While barriers persist, this approach represents a promising and scalable complement to traditional clinical trials.<\/p>\n
\nConducting clinical research in radiotherapy remains challenging due to the incremental nature of technological advances, the need for long-term endpoints, and the complexity of large-scale trials. To address these limitations, EORTC and ESTRO launched E\u00b2-RADIatE in 2019, aiming to complement randomised controlled trials through prospective, real-world data collection across Europe.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/span><\/div>
\nE\u00b2-RADIatE (EORTC 1811 \u2013 NCT03818503) is a pragmatic, observational, prospective multi-cohort study with a centralised database capturing data on cancer patients, radiotherapy treatments, and outcomes. The platform includes multiple cohorts, notably OligoCare and ReCare, and supports innovative methodologies such as Trials-within-Cohorts (TWiCs).<\/p>\n
\nAfter five years, E\u00b2-RADIatE has demonstrated the feasibility of a large-scale, pan-European real-world data infrastructure. The OligoCare and ReCare cohorts are actively recruiting, contributing to insights into radiotherapy practice across Europe. The platform has enabled the generation of new research hypotheses and the implementation of novel study designs, including the first international oncology TWiCs. Strong engagement from the radiotherapy community has supported its development, while regulatory, methodological, and operational challenges remain.<\/p>\n