Palliative Care for Breast Cancer
(TARGET-PC Trial)
Trial Summary
Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment TARGET-PC for breast cancer?
Is palliative care safe for breast cancer patients?
How is the TARGET-PC treatment different from other treatments for breast cancer?
What is the purpose of this trial?
Patients with metastatic breast cancer who are approaching the end of life often experience high symptom burden and acute hospitalizations without sufficient communication with care teams about their end-of-life care wishes or the support of palliative or hospice services. The purpose of this multi-site trial is to test the efficacy of a targeted, five-session palliative care intervention designed specifically for those with poor prognosis metastatic breast cancer and their caregivers to improve communication with clinicians and the quality of end-of-life care. This study will lay the groundwork for ultimately delivering scalable, timely, and tailored palliative care interventions for patients with advanced cancer who have long disease trajectories.
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for individuals with metastatic breast cancer who are nearing the end of life. It aims to help them and their caregivers by improving communication with healthcare teams and enhancing the quality of end-of-life care.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Palliative Care Intervention
Participants receive a five-session targeted palliative care intervention designed to improve communication with clinicians and the quality of end-of-life care.
Enhanced Usual Care
Oncology clinicians receive electronic health record prompts to discuss and document patients' end-of-life care preferences.
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention, with assessments of hospice utilization and end-of-life care preferences.
Treatment Details
Interventions
- TARGET-PC
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead Sponsor
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Collaborator
Duke University
Collaborator
University of Pennsylvania
Collaborator