Study of Attention and Memory Treatments for Cancer Survivors

A Pilot Study of A Novel Cognitive Intervention for Cancer Survivors

This clinical trial investigates if certain electronic games may be effective in improving attention and memory function in cancer survivors. Cancer related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is an issue experienced by many cancer patients/survivors. CRCI includes perceived or objective problems with memory, executive function, and attention/concentration. CRCI has a negative impact on survivors' ability to work, carry out routine activities, and engage in social and family relationships. CRCI may result in significant distress and reduced quality of life. Certain electronic games may help improve attention and memory function in cancer survivors and reduce symptoms of CRCI.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm; Malignant Solid Neoplasm
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Endeavor: Computer-Based Cognitive Stimulation Intervention; Other: Quality of Life (QOL) Questionnaires; Behavioral: Words!: Computer-Based Cognitive Stimulation Intervention

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the recruitment and retention rates for both arms of this study. II. Determine the effect size for changes in cognitive function (i.e., Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) [i.e. attention], Adaptive Cognitive Evaluation (ACE) [i.e. working memory]) in the intervention group compared to the control group following the 4-week study.

III. Evaluate adherence rates for and satisfaction with the interventions. IV. Evaluate for treatment-related adverse events (e.g., nausea, motion sickness).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine effect sizes for depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbance, by comparing changes in the intervention group to changes in the control group, following the 4-week study.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Patients play Endeavor over 25 minutes daily 5 days a week for 4 weeks.

ARM II: Patients play Words! over 25 minutes daily 5 days a week for 4 weeks.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 49
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • San Francisco, California, United States, 94143
      • University of California San Francisco

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Attention Function Index (AFI) score of < 7.5
• Are able to read, write, and understand English
• Ability to understand an electronic informed consent document, and the willingness to sign it
• Have a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score of >= 50
• Have access to WiFi connection

Exclusion Criteria:

• Receiving active treatment for cancer recurrence
• Have significant cognitive impairment
• Have sensory or motor deficits that prevent them from doing the assessment and using the application

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Arm I (Endeavor); Patients play Endeavor over 25 minutes daily 5 days a week for 4 weeks.	Behavioral: Endeavor: Computer-Based Cognitive Stimulation Intervention; Endeavor application will be utilized by participant on iPad; Other Names: Computer-Based Cognitive Stimulation Intervention; Computer-Based General Cognitive Stimulation Intervention; Other: Quality of Life (QOL) Questionnaires; Standardized QOL questionnaire will be administered at each study visit
Active Comparator: Arm II (Words!); Patients play Words! over 25 minutes daily 5 days a week for 4 weeks.	Other: Quality of Life (QOL) Questionnaires; Standardized QOL questionnaire will be administered at each study visit; Behavioral: Words!: Computer-Based Cognitive Stimulation Intervention; Words! application will be utilized by participant on iPad; Other Names: Computer-Based Cognitive Stimulation Intervention; Computer-Based General Cognitive Stimulation Intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of participants who completed the study	Completion is defined as participants who completed all 4 weeks of intervention and final assessment.	Up to 6 weeks
Mean change in scores on the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) over time	The TOVA records responses to visual or auditory stimuli through the participants iPAD, with a unique, highly accurate +/1 millisecond (ms) microswitch. The TOVA (Copyright 1991- 2021 by The TOVA Company) automatically calculates response time variability (consistency), response time (speed), commissions (impulsivity), and omissions (focus and vigilance). Results are reported as standard scores (average = 100 with a standard deviation of 15) and are compared to a large normative sample stratified by gender and age. Scores above 85 are within normal limits, 80-85 are borderline, and below 80 are not within normal limits. The mean change in scores will be estimated as the norm-based standardized difference in means from enrollment (Week 1) to the last assessment (Week 4).	Up to 4 weeks
Percent change in scores on the TOVA over time	The TOVA records responses to visual or auditory stimuli through the participants iPAD, with a unique, highly accurate +/1 millisecond (ms) microswitch. The TOVA (Copyright 1991- 2021 by The TOVA Company) automatically calculates response time variability (consistency), response time (speed), commissions (impulsivity), and omissions (focus and vigilance). Results are reported as standard scores (average = 100 with a standard deviation of 15) and are compared to a large normative sample stratified by gender and age. Scores above 85 are within normal limits, 80-85 are borderline, and below 80 are not within normal limits. Will be estimated as the standardized difference between the groups in the percent score change from enrollment (Week 1) to the last assessment (Week 4).	Up to 4 weeks
Mean changes in Adaptive Cognitive Evaluation (ACE)	The ACE is a mobile cognitive control assessment battery containing standard tests that assess different aspects of cognitive control (attention, working memory, and goal management), modified by incorporating adaptive algorithms, immersive graphics, video tutorials, motivating feedback, and a user-friendly interface. The ACE is administered to all participants via iPad and the scores will be estimated as the standardized difference in means from enrollment (Week 1) to the last assessment (Week 4).	Up to 4 weeks
Percent change in scores on the ACE over time	The ACE is a mobile cognitive control assessment battery containing standard tests that assess different aspects of cognitive control (attention, working memory, and goal management), modified by incorporating adaptive algorithms, immersive graphics, video tutorials, motivating feedback, and a user-friendly interface. The ACE is administered to all participants via iPad and the scores will be estimated as the standardized difference between the groups in the percent score change from enrollment (Week 1) to the last assessment (Week 4).	Up to 4 weeks
Proportion of time using application	Adherence rate will be evaluated by comparing the amount of time the participant should have used the application to the actual amount of time the participant used the application.	Up to 4 weeks
Percentage of participants who experienced treatment-related adverse events	Safety analyses will involve examination of and comparison between groups for the percentage of participants by adverse event severity and type of treatment-related adverse events. Comparisons of the frequencies between groups will be conducted using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test.	Up to 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in mean severity scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D)	The CES-D scale is a brief self-report scale designed to measure self-reported symptoms associated with depression experienced in the past week. Responses are rated on a 5 point Likert scale with response option ranging 0="Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day )" to 4='Most or all of the time (5-7 days)". The scoring of positive items is reversed. Possible range of scores is 0 to 60, with the higher scores indicating the presence of more symptomatology and will be estimated as the standardized difference in means of each measure at the last assessment from enrollment to the last assessment.	Up to 4 weeks
Change in mean severity scores on the Lee Fatigue Scale	The Lee Fatigue Scale is used to measure the impact of fatigue on a participants quality of life. The scale consists of 18 items relating to the subjective experience of fatigue. Each item is rated on a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale (e.g., from "not at all tired" to "extremely tired"). Scores can range from 0 to 10. The instrument has two subscales: fatigue (items 1-5 and 11-18) and energy (items 6-10). The fatigue subscale score is calculated as the mean of the 13 fatigue items and the energy subscale score is the mean of the 5 energy items. Higher scores on the fatigue subscale represent greater fatigue severity, and higher scores on the energy subscale indicate higher levels of energy and will be estimated as the standardized difference in means of each measure at the last assessment from enrollment to the last assessment.	Up to 4 weeks
Change in severity scores on the General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS)	The GSDS consists of 21 items related to frequency in the past month of difficulty getting to sleep when respondents were asked to think about the past month, and each response is on a 8-point Likert scale from 0 ("never") to 7 ("all the time"). Will be estimated as the standardized difference in means of each measure at the last assessment, and as the difference between the groups in the percent change from enrollment to the last assessment.	Up to 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco
• Collaborators: Akili Interactive Labs, Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Christine Miaskowski, RN, PhD, University of California, San Francisco

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 31, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): January 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 28, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 28, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): May 3, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 8, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 30, 2022
• Last Verified: March 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: 19803; NCI-2021-02024 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

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