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Fatigue and Molecular Mechanisms in Cancer Patients Receiving CCRT

An Evaluation of Changes in the Relationships Between Fatigue and Molecular Mechanisms in Cancer Patients Receiving Curative-Intent Combined Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy (CCRT)

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06633224
Enrollment
125
Registered
2024-10-09
Start date
2024-12-27
Completion date
2027-09-01
Last updated
2025-09-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cancer, Thoracic Cancer, Gynecologic Cancer, Head and Neck Cancer, Gastrointestinal Cancer

Keywords

Basic Science Research

Brief summary

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a significant problem for cancer patients. This prospective, basic science, observational study will evaluate for changes in CRF associated with molecular characteristics prior to, during, and at the completion of non-investigational, standard-of-care, combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CCRT) and to develop and assess predictive models for CRF severity.

Detailed description

Primary Objective For mean, morning and evening CRF: Aim 1. Evaluate for associations between phenotypic characteristics and initial levels and the trajectories of CRF. Aim 2. Evaluate for associations between changes in CRF severity and changes in gene expression levels prior to the initiation and at the end of CCRT. Aim 3. Evaluate for associations between changes in CRF severity and changes in circulating free cytokine levels prior to the initiation and at the end of CCRT. Aim 4. Develop and assess predictive models for CRF severity midway, at the end of, and at least six months post-CCRT using demographic, clinical, and molecular characteristics collected prior the initiation of CCRT. Secondary Objectives For the commonly co-occurring symptom of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): Secondary Aim 5. Evaluate for associations between phenotypic characteristics and initial levels and the trajectories of CIPN. Secondary Aim 6. Evaluate for associations between changes in CIPN severity and changes in gene expression levels prior to the initiation and at the end of CCRT. Secondary Aim 7. Evaluate for associations between changes in CIPN severity and changes in circulating free cytokine levels prior to the initiation and at the end of CCRT. Secondary Aim 8. Develop and assess predictive models for CIPN severity midway, at the end of, and at least six months post-CCRT using demographic, clinical, and molecular characteristics collected prior the initiation of CCRT. Exploratory Aim 1 - Evaluate the feasibility of the protocol for the collection of stool samples. Exploratory Aim 2 - Evaluate the feasibility of processing and storing stool samples. Exploratory Aim 3 - Evaluate the feasibility of processing and storing performing blood samples and performing Cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) assays.

Interventions

Blood samples will be obtained throughout the course of the study

Stool samples will be obtained throughout the course of the study

Surveys will be given throughout the course of the study.

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
University of California, San Francisco
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Participants have not received any prior treatment (i.e., cancer systemic therapies or radiation therapy) in the month except surgery or inductive Chemotherapy (CTX). * Participants receiving \>= 15 fractions. * Participants is male or female and is \>18 years of age on the day of signing the informed consent. * Ability to understand a written informed consent document. * Able and willing to complete all of the study questionnaires and provide blood and stool samples prior to, midway, and following the completion of treatment. * Willing to have medical records reviewed for clinical information. * Able to read, write and understand English or Spanish.

Exclusion criteria

* Contraindication to phlebotomy for removal of approximately 50 mL of peripheral blood within 6 week period (Institutional Review Board (IRB) limit).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Measure associations between changes in cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and changes in gene expression over timeUp to 34 weeksAssociation between phenotypic characteristics and initial levels and trajectories of CRF severity will be assessed using a hierarchical linear model (HLM) approach.
Measure associations between changes in CRF and changes in cytokine levels over timeUp to 34 weeksAssociation between changes in CRF severity and biomarker levels prior to the initiation and at the end of CCRT. Linear regression will be used to evaluate for associations between fatigue changes and biomarker levels at baseline controlling for covariates identified in the initial primary outcome. Adjustments for multiple comparisons will be conducted using the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) procedure at a false discovery rate (FDR) of 10%.
Measure associations between changes in CRF and changes in gene expression over timeUp to 34 weeksAssociation between changes in CRF severity and gene expression prior to the initiation and at the end of CCRT. Linear regression will be used to evaluate for associations between fatigue changes and biomarker levels at baseline controlling for covariates identified in the initial primary outcome. Adjustments for multiple comparisons will be conducted using the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) procedure at a false discovery rate (FDR) of 10%.
Evaluate the predictive utility of gene expression and cytokine dataUp to 34 weeksA validated prediction model of CRF severity will be generated using machine learning (ML) methods to minimize the error between predicted and observed levels of fatigue midway through CCRT, at the completion of CCRT, and at least six months following the completion of CCRT. Evaluation of common ML algorithms for prediction accuracy and evaluation of model performance as compared to simple linear regression. Separate training and testing sets will be created, cross-validated, and repeated and impact of each variable will be determined.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Evaluate for associations between changes in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and changes in gene expressionUp to 34 weeksThe association between phenotypic characteristics and initial levels and trajectories of CIPN severity will be evaluated using a hierarchical linear model (HLM) approach.
Evaluate the predictive model of severity of CIPNUp to 34 weeksThe predictive utility will be assessed through a validated prediction model of CIPN severity using machine learning (ML) methods to minimize the error between predicted and observed levels of CIPN midway through CCRT, at the completion of CCRT, and at least six months following the completion of CCRT. We will evaluate common ML algorithms for prediction accuracy and evaluate their performance as compared to simple linear regression
Evaluate for associations between changes in CIPN and changes in cytokine levelsUp to 34 weeksThe association between phenotypic characteristics and initial levels and trajectories of CIPN severity will be evaluated using a hierarchical linear model (HLM) approach.
Evaluate the predictive utility of gene expression and severity of CIPNUp to 34 weeksThe association between changes in CIPN severity and gene expression prior to the initiation and at the end of CCRT. Linear regression will be used to evaluate for associations between CIPN changes and gene expression at baseline controlling for covariates identified in previous objectives/endpoints. Adjustments for multiple comparisons will be performed using the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) procedure at a false discovery rate (FDR) of 10%.
Evaluate the predictive utility of cytokine levels and severity of CIPNUp to 34 weeksThe association between changes in CIPN severity and cytokine levels prior to the initiation and at the end of CCRT. Linear regression will be used to evaluate for associations between CIPN changes and cytokine levels at baseline controlling for covariates identified in previous objectives/endpoints. Adjustments for multiple comparisons will be performed using the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) procedure at a false discovery rate (FDR) of 10%.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactJamese Johnson
Jamese.Johnson@ucsf.edu(415) 530-9805

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026