Medical and Psychosocial Issues in Adolescents and Young Adults With Colorectal Cancer

June 3, 2026 updated by: University of Southern California

Colorectal Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Pilot Study of Medical and Psychosocial Issues

This study investigates the medical and psychosocial consequences of colorectal cancer on adolescents and young adults. Measuring physical function in adolescents and young adults with colorectal cancer may help doctors better understand the level of physical function during cancer treatment and how to improve the management of colorectal cancer in adolescents and young adults. This study may also help design a future exercise program to decrease risk factors including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To prospectively characterize the symptom burden and assess the health-related quality of life of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in active treatment for colorectal cancer in comparison to older patients to identify differences that contribute to the development of appropriately timed, age appropriate interventions.

II. To characterize the symptom burden and assess the health-related quality of life of AYAs who have completed curative therapy and are in surveillance for colorectal cancer compared to older patients to identify differences that contribute to the development of appropriately timed, age-appropriate interventions.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Using a prospective and cross-sectional design, characterize physical function, body composition, and biomarkers of comorbid conditions among AYAs with colorectal cancer (CRC) on active therapy and after completion of therapy in survivorship to identify targets for and timing of interventions.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. To assess across Aims differences by cancer site (colon versus [vs.] rectal) by sex, and by race/ethnicity.

OUTLINE:

Patients on active treatment complete questionnaires and undergo collection of blood samples and physical function assessments at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months. Survivors in surveillance complete questionnaires and undergo collection of blood sample and physical function assessment at baseline.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
32

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033
        • USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033
        • Los Angeles General Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of colorectal cancer (any stage)
  • Any type of prior therapy
  • Age >= 18-39 years for AYA/young adult sample, age 40+ for older comparison group
  • For patients on active therapy: must have been diagnosed within the past three months. For survivors: must have completed curative therapy and are 6-24 months post-diagnosis
  • Speak English or Spanish
  • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who are more than 3 months from diagnosis, and survivors who are more than 24 months from initial diagnosis
  • Patients who have a life expectancy of less than 6 months per their medical oncologist
  • Patients who are deemed too ill or unable to participate by their medical oncologist (e.g., have cognitive impairment or brain metastases)
  • Patients who do not speak English or Spanish

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Physical function testing, questionnaire
Patients on active treatment complete questionnaires and undergo collection of blood samples and physical function assessments at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months. Survivors in surveillance complete questionnaires and undergo collection of blood sample and physical function assessment at baseline.
Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment
Ancillary studies
Other Names:
  • Quality of Life Assessment
Procedure: Biospecimen Collection
Undergo collection of blood sample
Other: Questionnaire Administration
Complete questionnaire
Other: Medical Chart Review
Review of medical charts
Other Names:
  • Chart Review
Other: Physical Performance Testing
Undergo physical function testing
Other Names:
  • Physical Fitness Testing
  • Physical Function Testing

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Symptom Burden
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Symptom burden will be assessed with computer adaptive tests (CATs) from the PROMIS measurement system. PROMIS is an NIH-sponsored system for measuring patient-reported health status, including physical, mental, and social well-being. Participants will complete the PROMIS Anxiety, Depression, Fatigue, and Pain Interference computer adaptive tests (CATs), which administer the minimum number of items necessary to accurately measure patient-reported outcomes while minimizing participant burden.
Up to 6 months
Change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL)
Time Frame: Baseline up to 6 months
HRQoL will be measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C) Quality of Life Instrument, a disease-specific quality of life measure. The FACT-C includes 38 items assessing five domains of health-related quality of life: Physical, Social/Family, Emotional and Functional Well-Being, and a subscale that examines health symptoms specific to CRC patients. Participants evaluate how they have been feeling over the preceding week on a five-point Likert-type scale with a possible total score of 0 to 136, with higher scores reflecting better QoL.
Baseline up to 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Physical function - cardiorespiratory fitness
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Physical function will be measured using the following in-lab test for cardiorespiratory fitness (6-minute walk test): 6-minute Walk Test (6MWT): Participants will be instructed to walk as quickly as possible without running on an indoor pre-measured walkway for 6 minutes. The investigator will follow behind the participant so as not to pace the participant, and record the distance covered. Approximate time: 10 minutes.
Up to 6 months
Physical function - power (stair climb)
Time Frame: Up to 6 months

Functional power will be measured using a stair climb test (Margaria Stair Climb) that has been successfully performed and correlated with lower-extremity power and mobility performance in older adults with a reliability coefficient of 0.99. Participants will be instructed to ascend a flight of 10 stairs one step at a time as quickly as possible without using a handrail. Timing will begin when one foot steps on the 3rd stair, and ends when one foot reaches the 9th stair. Time is recorded to the nearest .01 second, and an average of 3 trials is calculated. One practice trial will be given before the 3 trials.

Approximate time: 5 minutes.
Up to 6 months
Physical function - Mobility
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Mobility will be assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, which has been shown to predict immediate fall risk better than static balance tests or isometric muscle strength. Participants begin seated in a chair with hands on the armrests, are asked to rise, walk to a line on the floor 3 meters from the chair, turn around, and return to the same seated position as quickly and safe as possible. Scores will be taken as the time to complete the task, with one practice trial given. An average of time for 3 trials is calculated. Approximate time: 5 minutes
Up to 6 months
Body composition
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Body composition will be assessed via bioelectrical impedance using a validated device (InBody 570, Cerritos, CA). Participants will be asked to remove their shoes and socks and stand still on the device while holding the handles with their hands at their sides. The device will estimate body fat using an algorithm based on their age, sex, height, and body weight. A tape measure will be used to obtain hip circumference defined as the distance around the widest girth of the buttocks using the greater trochanter as a landmark. A tape measure will be used to obtain waist circumference defined as the distance around the midpoint between the last palpable rib and top of the iliac crest.
Up to 6 months
Biomarker analysis - insulin
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Fasting insulin levels measured in blood
Up to 6 months
Biomarker analysis - glucose
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Fasting glucose levels measured in blood
Up to 6 months
Biomarker analysis - C-Reactive Protein
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
C- reactive protein levels measured in blood
Up to 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Southern California

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Kimberly Miller, MD, University of Southern California

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 27, 2019

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 9, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 1, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 6, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 3, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 3C-19-4 (Other Identifier: USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center)
  • P30CA014089 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • NCI-2020-02581 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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Drug Interventions

Conditions

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Dietary Supplements

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