Progressioonivaba

Progressioonivaba is an Estonian term used in medical literature to describe a state in which a patient’s disease shows no signs of progression for a defined period after treatment. It is most commonly associated with oncology, where it serves as a descriptor of disease control rather than cure.

In oncology, progression refers to the growth of existing tumors, the appearance of new lesions, or worsening clinical symptoms. Progression is typically defined using standardized criteria such as RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) or, for hematologic malignancies and some solid tumors, alternative criteria. Progressioonivaba status can be assessed as progression-free survival (PFS), which is the length of time from the start of treatment to the first evidence of progression or death from any cause. The term may be used to describe a patient who is progression-free at a specific time point or to denote the duration of the progression-free period.

Progressioonivaba is a key endpoint in many clinical trials and is often reported to gauge the efficacy of cancer therapies. It offers an earlier signal of treatment effect compared with overall survival, but it is a surrogate endpoint. Its interpretation can be influenced by how often patients are assessed, the imaging methods used, and subsequent therapies after progression. Consequently, while progression-free status provides important information about disease control, it does not always predict longer overall survival.

See also: progression-free survival, RECIST, oncology endpoints.