Translational Research Center in Lung Cancer Disparities (TRACER) Project 2 (TRACER)

Biological Pathways in Stress Reactivity and Nicotine Addiction Among African American and White Smokers

The purpose of this study is to examine racial differences in smoking behaviors and stress responses between African American and white male smokers.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Smoking Behaviors; Stress Reaction

Detailed Description

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality from lung cancer among adults in the US. Stress relief and smoking cessation is the best preventive strategy for reducing lung cancer risk and addressing racial disparities in outcomes. Despite this, racial differences are found among those that make quit attempts. Stress has been found to be related to smoking initiation, maintenance, and relapse. Yet, differences in stress responses have not been examined between African American and white smokers. Therefore, this study will examine racial differences in stress responses and smoking behaviors between African American and white male smokers

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 95

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90089
      • University of Southern California
  • South Carolina
    • Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
      • Medical University of South Carolina

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

African American and white male daily smokers who are between the ages of 18-75 and who smoke at least 5 to 10 cigarettes per day.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• African American and white males
• Between the ages of 18-75 years old
• Smoke at least 5 to 10 cigarettes per day

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smokers who have a serious cognitive disorder
• Have a personal history of lung cancer
• Personal history of usage of illicit drug and alcohol abuse
• Enrollment in a smoking cessation treatment program during the past 6 months
• Current use of a nicotine replacement therapy
• Have any positive responses on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) screener

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Examining racial differences in acute stress responses	Examine racial differences in acute stress responses using a validated psychological stress challenge called the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)	Within 1 month following baseline
Examining changes in daily cortisol patterns according to race	Examine racial differences in daily diurnal cortisol slopes to evaluate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis dysregulation and acute stress	Baseline, 4- and 8 weeks post Trier Social Stress Test laboratory visit
Examine changes in stress responses and smoking behaviors as it relates to social determinant factors	Patients will be administered a survey using validated measures to examine socioeconomic, structural, and psychosocial stressors that impact daily stress and smoking behaviors	Baseline, 4- and 8-weeks post Trier Social Stress Test laboratory visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Collaborators: Medical University of South Carolina; National Cancer Institute (NCI); City of Hope Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Vanessa Sheppard, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 31, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): August 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 5, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 3, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): August 5, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 3, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 29, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Fractures, Bone; Behavior; Health Behavior; Fractures, Stress; Smoking; Smoking Cessation
• Other Study ID Numbers: MCC-21-18891; 00116801 (Other Identifier: Medical University of South Carolina); HM20022956 (Other Identifier: Virginia Commonwealth University)

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