Recruiting

Targeted Palliative Care Intervention for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT06795529

PhaseNA

Enrollment400

SponsorMassachusetts General Hospital

Age18 Years

SexALL

I'm interested View official listing

Conditions studied

Metastatic Breast Cancer

About this study

Many people living with metastatic breast cancer face challenging symptoms and frequent medical visits. At the same time, conversations about personal goals, values, and preferences for care may not always happen as early or as often as patients and families would like. This multi-site study will test the effectiveness of a five-session palliative care program, designed specifically for people with metastatic breast cancer and their caregivers, to strengthen communication with clinicians about what matters most in their care. The study aims to inform how palliative care services can be delivered in a more timely, personalized, and scalable way for people living with advanced cancers who have long disease trajectories, such as metastatic breast cancer.

Interventions

Other: Palliative Care Intervention, "TARGET-PC" — Palliative care intervention focused on eliciting patients' goals and values to facilitate discussion and documentation of health care preferences.
Other: Enhanced Usual Care — Oncology clinicians will receive an electronic message to encourage them to discuss and document their patients' health care preferences.

Primary outcomes

Documentation of End-of-Life Care Preferences (From date of randomization until date of death or last follow up assessed up to 60 months)

Eligibility information

Patient Inclusion Criteria: * age ≥18 years * diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer * within 8 weeks of the oncology visit at which they were identified as having an eligible Epic EOL Care Index (≥ 15) * functioning independently per an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤2 * receiving their cancer care at one of the participating institutions * able to complete questionnaires in English or Spanish Patient Exclusion Criteria: * received outpatient palliative care visit within the last six months * enrolled in hospice services * diagnosed with a comorbid condition that impairs their ability to understand study procedures and/or consent for the trial as per the report of the oncology clinician(s) Caregiver Inclusion Criteria: * age ≥18 years * identified by the patient as a family member or friend who is primarily involved in their care * able to complete questionnaires in English or Spanish

Study locations

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02465 United States
Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 54677 United States
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 46205 United States

Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.