Clinical Trials

Defined by the National Cancer Institute, clinical trials in supportive or palliative care explore ways to improve the comfort and quality of life of cancer patients and cancer survivors.

The trials conducted in the Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine identify ways to help people who are experiencing symptoms related to cancer and its treatment, such as fatigue, nausea, pain, weight loss, sleep disorders, and depression. Some supportive care trials also look at nutrition, rehabilitation and other interventions that aim to benefit patients and survivors.

Current clinical trials

• Optimizing Neurofeedback to Treat Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
• Exploring Electroencephalogram Changes in Biofield Therapists

• Opioid-Sparing Interdisciplinary Interventions Addressing Pain in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

• A comparison of healthcare provider and caregiver perception of discomfort in advanced cancer patients who have a hypoactive delirium.

• Managing Agitated Delirium with Neuroleptics and anti-Epileptics as a Neuroleptic Sparing Strategy

• Combination Therapy for Treatment of Sleep Disturbance in Patients with Advanced Cancer

• Opioid-Sparing effects of nurse-delivered hypnosis during breast cancer surgery.

• Patient engagement in IM healthy group

• Validation of the Screen of Cancer Survivorship - Occupational Therapy Services (SOCS-OTS) Tool for use in a physical medicine rehabilitation clinic

• Tele-PancFit: a multi-site trial of video-based strengthening exercise prehabilitation for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer

• Combination Therapy for Cancer Related Fatigue in Patients with Metastatic Cancers

• Effect of Olanzapine on opioid craving and misuse among patients receiving opioids for cancer-related pain: a pilot double-blind, randomized control trial.

• Structured personalized oxygen and supportive therapies for dyspnea in oncology (SPOT-ON) approach for dyspnea treatment in cancer patients: an R01 randomized clinical trial

• Understanding and preventing Cortical Mechanisms of Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

• Biomarkers of delirium in patients with advanced cancer admitted to an acute Palliative Care Unit: A longitudinal observational pilot study

• Comprehensive yoga therapy based lifestyle prehabilitation program for women with ovarian cancer

• Feasibility of the use of weighted blankets to improve sleep among patients with hematological malignancies

• Survey of patients' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs toward psychedelics in management of distress in palliative care

Clinical Research Leadership

• Jennifer Ellefson, Manager Clinical Protocol Administration
• Pennie Stanton, Manager Clinical Protocol Administration
• Vera De La Cruz, Associate Director, Research Planning and Development
• Aimee Anderson, PhD, Sr. Research Project Manager

For more information about ongoing, active, supportive care trials in the Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine, contact Penny Stanton, 832-728-8743; or Vera Dela Cruz, 281-216-5990.