Actively Recruiting
Early Integration of Palliative and Supportive Care in Cellular Therapy
Led by Alberta Health Services, Calgary · Updated on 2024-07-31
152
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
190 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
A
Alberta Health Services, Calgary
Lead Sponsor
A
Alberta Cancer Foundation
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Research has shown that early palliative care in cancer care is associated with improved symptom management, better prognostic understanding, improved quality of life for patients and family caregivers, and even improved survival. Yet, in spite of the proven benefits of integration of palliative care in oncology, it has been well established that patients with hematologic malignancies and those undergoing cellular therapy (hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy) do not routinely receive palliative care. Most of the published research on the early integration of palliative care in oncology describes studies that have involved patients with solid tumours. To date, only one randomized trial examining the impact of integrated palliative care among patients undergoing HSCT has been published and there have been no studies examining the impact of integrated palliative care for patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy. The American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends early palliative care for patients with advanced cancers or for those with high symptom burden. Patients with blood cancers experience high symptom burden and in the last 30 days of life, compared to patients with solid tumours, patients with blood cancers are more likely to die in hospital, have more intensive care unit admissions, have prolonged hospitalizations (\>14 days), and pass away in an acute care facility. There is an urgent need to proactively address suffering throughout cellular therapy trajectories, even before treatment starts, so that patients and caregivers are not inevitably waiting for symptoms to arise before they can be addressed and to optimize quality of life for patients undergoing transplant as well as their family caregivers. PALS\_CT will compare early palliative care to standard care for patients and their family caregivers undergoing HSCT or CAR T-cell therapy for blood cancers.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Early Integration of Palliative and Supportive Care in Cellular Therapy
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Patients with a blood cancer diagnosis scheduled for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or CAR T-cell therapy
- Ability to speak, read, and understand English or complete questionnaires with minimal interpreter help
- Family caregivers identified by the patient who live with or see the patient in person at least twice per week
- Family caregivers able to speak, read, and understand English or complete questionnaires with minimal interpreter help
- Only one family caregiver per patient will be asked to participate
You will not qualify if you...
- Patients undergoing stem cell transplantation for non-cancerous blood conditions
- Patients unable to provide informed consent
- Family caregivers unable to provide informed consent
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
R
Reanne Booker, PhD(c)
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Number of Arms
2
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