App-Based Mindfulness Intervention for the Improvement of Quality of Life in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer

Assessing Feasibility of an App-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

This trial tests the feasibility of an application (app)-based mindfulness intervention and its effect on improving quality of life in patients with renal cell cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). This trial aims to see whether an app-based mindfulness intervention may help patients cope with their disease.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma; Stage IV Renal Cell Cancer AJCC v8
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Device: Behavioral Intervention

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess feasibility of the Am mindfulness app in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients, with respect to accrual, adherence and engagement in program.

II. To assess preliminary effects of app-based mindfulness intervention in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) (the Am Mindfulness-Based Cancer Survivorship [MBCS] Journey), on psychosocial outcomes (e.g., anxiety, distress, fear of cancer recurrence), as well as overall quality of life (QOL) and fatigue, among patients with mRCC.

OUTLINE:

Patients participate in a mindfulness-based program by using the Am app for 20-30 minutes every day, a minimum of 4 days each week over 4 weeks.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 21
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Duarte, California, United States, 91010
      • City of Hope Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Sufficiently fluent in English
• Cytologically or pathologically verified diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
• Evidence of metastatic disease (including at a minimum computed tomography [CT] of the chest, abdomen and pelvis for staging)
• Undergoing immunotherapy
• A "moderate" or greater fear of cancer progression, as demonstrated by an Fear of Cancer Recurrence-7 (FCR-7) score of >= 17
• A fear of cancer progression, as demonstrated by a Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Anxiety score >= 13
• Have smart phone with internet access
• Not suffering from current major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or other psychiatric disorder
• Not currently engaging in meditation one or more times per week within the previous year
• Has not participated in an mindfulness-based cancer recovery (MBCR) or mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program in the past 5 years

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Device feasibility (app-based mindfulness program); Patients participate in a mindfulness-based program by using the Am app for 20-30 minutes every day, a minimum of 4 days each week over 4 weeks.

Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment; Ancillary studies; Other Names: Quality of Life Assessment; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Ancillary studies; Device: Behavioral Intervention; Participate in an app-based mindfulness program; Other Names: Behavior Conditioning Therapy; Behavior Modification; Behavior or Life Style Modifications; Behavior Therapy; Behavioral Interventions; Behavioral Modification; Behavioral Therapy; Behavioral Treatment; Behavioral Treatments

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Feasibility metric 1	At least 90% of desired accrual is reached within 3 months (Yes or No)	3 months
Feasibility metric 2	At least 70% of patients are able to complete at least 2 of 4 intended intervention sessions for at least 2 of 4 weeks (Yes or No)	3 months
Feasibility metric 3	At least 70% of patients have at least 2 of 4 evaluable time points for the 4 assessments for Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety and Fear of Cancer Recurrence. (Yes or No)	3 months
Feasibility metric 4	At least 70% of patients have at least 2 of 4 evaluable time points for the 4 assessments for Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) depression. (Yes or No)	3 months
Fear of Cancer Recurrence-7	7-item scale that assesses the degree of FCR, with a cutoff score of 17 or above indicative of moderate and a cutoff score of 27 or above indicative of severe FCR. Reported as low, moderate, severe. Count and percentages provided for each level.	3 months
PROMIS Emotional Distress: Anxiety	This 8-item measure assesses symptoms of anxiety on a 5-point scale (1=never, 5=always). Scores range from 7-35 with higher scores indicating greater severity of anxiety. Data reported as continuous measure: means, standard deviation/ median range to be provided.	3 months
PROMIS Emotional Distress: Depression	This 8-item measure assesses symptoms of depression on a 5-point scale (1=never, 5=always). Scores range from 8-40 with higher scores indicating greater severity of depression. Data reported as continuous measure: means, standard deviation/ median range to be provided.	3 months
Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-General (FACT-G): Overall	A 27-item self-related scale measure QoL across four domains of 'well-being' (physical, social/family, emotional and functional) on a 4-point Likert scale. Scores range from 0-108 for the total score. Data reported as continuous measure: means, standard deviation/ median range to be provided.	3 months
Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-General (FACT-G): Physical	A 27-item self-related scale measure QoL across four domains of 'well-being' (physical, social/family, emotional and functional) on a 4-point Likert scale. Scores range from 0-28 for the physical. Data reported as continuous measure: means, standard deviation/ median range to be provided.	3 months
Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-General (FACT-G): Social/ Family	A 27-item self-related scale measure QoL across four domains of 'well-being' (physical, social/family, emotional and functional) on a 4-point Likert scale. Scores range from 0-28 for the social/family. Data reported as continuous measure: means, standard deviation/ median range to be provided.	3 months
Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-General (FACT-G): Functional	A 27-item self-related scale measure QoL across four domains of 'well-being' (physical, social/family, emotional and functional) on a 4-point Likert scale. Scores range from 0 to 28 for the functional subscales. Data reported as continuous measure: means, standard deviation/ median range to be provided.	3 months
Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-General (FACT-G): Emotional	A 27-item self-related scale measure QoL across four domains of 'well-being' (physical, social/family, emotional and functional) on a 4-point Likert scale. Scores range from 0-24 for the emotional subscale. Data reported as continuous measure: means, standard deviation/ median range to be provided.	3 months
Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)	A 15-item scale, designed to assess characteristics associated with mindfulness, such as: open or receptive awareness of and attention to what is taking place in the present. Participants use a scale from 1 to 6 (almost always - almost never), to indicate how frequently or infrequently they have each experience. Higher scores reflect higher levels of dispositional mindfulness. Data reported as continuous measure: means, standard deviation/ median range to be provided.	3 months
Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI): Fatigue severity	This 9-item, 11-point rating scale was developed to assess subjective fatigue. The first three questions measure fatigue severity from 0, indicating "no fatigue," to 10, indicating "as bad as you can imagine," at current, usual, and worst levels. The following six questions assess fatigue interference with daily activities including general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work (both inside and outside the home), relations with other people, and enjoyment of life. Response options range from 0, indicating "does not interfere," to 10, indicating, "completely interferes." Higher scores on the BFI correspond to greater self-reported levels of fatigue. The time period for all questions is over the past 24 hours. Data reported as continuous measure: means, standard deviation/ median range to be provided.	3 months
Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI): Fatigue Interferance	This 9-item, 11-point rating scale was developed to assess subjective fatigue. The first three questions measure fatigue severity from 0, indicating "no fatigue," to 10, indicating "as bad as you can imagine," at current, usual, and worst levels. The following six questions assess fatigue interference with daily activities including general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work (both inside and outside the home), relations with other people, and enjoyment of life. Response options range from 0, indicating "does not interfere," to 10, indicating, "completely interferes." Higher scores on the BFI correspond to greater self-reported levels of fatigue. The time period for all questions is over the past 24 hours. Data reported as continuous measure: means, standard deviation/ median range to be provided.	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: City of Hope Medical Center
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sumanta K Pal, City of Hope Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 23, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 1, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 4, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 9, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Male Urogenital Diseases; Kidney Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Adenocarcinoma; Urologic Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Kidney Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Renal Cell
• Other Study ID Numbers: 20310 (Other Identifier: City of Hope Medical Center); P30CA033572 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); NCI-2020-10496 (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