Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Anxiety in Patients With Metastatic Cancer

A Phase 1/2 Study of a Group Model of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Cancer-Related Anxiety in Patients With Metastatic Cancer

This phase I/II trial tests the safety and side effects of psilocybin in combination with therapy for the treatment of patients with metastatic cancer and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Psilocybin is a substance being studied in conjunction with therapy for the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients with cancer. In this study, the psilocybin being used is derived from the mushroom psilocybe cubensis using a patented process that results in a pharmaceutical grade version of psilocybin. Psilocybin acts by activating serotonin receptors on brain cells which can change perceptions and patterns of thinking in ways that may decrease anxiety.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Metastatic Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Questionnaire Administration; Drug: Psilocybin; Other: Counseling

Detailed Description

OUTLINE:

Patients receive psilocybin orally (PO) and participate in group and individual therapy sessions on trial.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 55
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Washington
    • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98109
      • Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• A diagnosis of metastatic solid tumor, or incurable hematologic malignancy that has been accepted by a physician in a medical record
• Measurable disease is not required
• Previous treatment with chemotherapy: There are no minimum or maximum prior lines of chemotherapy
• 18-85 years of age
• Required performance status, including the appropriate scale. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2
• Hematocrit > 20
• Platelets (Plt) > 20K
• Liver function tests 1.5 x normal
• Creatinine 1.5 x normal
• Subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use an effective contraceptive method from study enrollment until at least 1 month after receiving the investigational agent(s)
• Must be at least 4 weeks after surgery or radiotherapy at study entry, but can be receiving oral or iv chemotherapy if those schedules can be adjusted around the medication session date
• Motivated to participate in a group study and able in the research team's judgment to participate in the small group effectively
• On pre-enrollment screening tests, they will have clinically significant anxiety or depressive symptoms as defined by a score of 11 or greater on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)-Total
• English speaking- able to understand the process of consent and the risk and benefits associated with the study, and able to give written informed consent. This is a pilot study, and if future larger studies are designed, consideration will be given for non-English-speaking subjects
• Must be willing to sign a medical release for the investigators to communicate directly with their treating clinicians (mental health professional or oncologist) and doctors to confirm a medication and/or medical history
• Must provide at least one adult who is in contact with the participant at least once a day when the participant is at home who is able to verbally monitor participant-reported changes in the behavior and able to notify research staff of behavior changes that may require research staff assessment
• Has been off selective serotonin inhibitors for five half-lives of the drug plus 2 weeks
• Must avoid taking any psychiatric medications or starting a new psychiatric medication during the study. Should participant's doctor recommend starting a new psychiatric medication, participant will be required to notify the study team and the subject would withdraw from the study. (Use of prn benzodiazepines is allowed but high dose chronic benzodiazepine use must be reviewed by the principal investigator [PI]. Use of as needed [prn] gabapentoids is allowed by high dose chronic gabapentoid use must be reviewed by the PI)
• Must provide a contact (relative, spouse, close friend, or other caregiver; can be the same person) who is willing and able to be reached by the research team in the event that the participant becomes suicidal
• If the potential participant is of childbearing potential, they must have a negative pregnancy test at baseline and prior to the medication dosing session, and must agree to use adequate birth control
• Are willing to commit to preparation sessions, medication dosing sessions, integration sessions, to complete evaluation instruments and commit to be contacted for all necessary telephone contacts

Exclusion Criteria:

• Brain metastases that have not been treated
• Uncontrolled or concurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children for the duration of the trial through 30 days after receipt of investigational agent(s)
• Personal or immediate family history of schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, delusion disorder, paranoid disorder, or schizoaffective disorder
• Suicidal ideation with a Columbia-Suicidality Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) >= 3
• Current substance abuse disorder (although prospective subjects will not be excluded for reasonable alcohol use that does not meet criteria for alcohol use disorder or marijuana use that does not meet criteria for substance use disorder)
• Neuroleptic (including olanzapine, prochlorperazine, promethazine), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications that cannot be tapered and discontinued in conjunction with the participant's prescribing physician (although ondansetron can be used for nausea)
• Unstable neurological or medical condition; history of seizure, chronic/severe headaches
• Any use of psychedelic drugs in high doses (psilocybin > 2 grams of dried mushrooms, LSD > 200 micrograms) within the prior 12 months (microdosing will not require exclusion but participants would have to agree to discontinue microdosing 1 month before study entry)
• Use of tramadol, due to the potential for serotonin syndrome with concomitant use of psilocybin
• Individuals who are on MOAI (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) or who have a known sensitivity to the drug or its metabolites. Psilocybin is contraindicated in medications that are known UGT (UDP-glucuronosyltransferase) enzyme modulators. The concurrent use of SSRI/serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) meds is assumed to be contraindicated due to the potential to increase the risk of serotonin syndrome and/or to attenuate the binding of psilocin to the HT2A receptor
• A marked baseline prolongation of QT/corrected QT (QTc) interval (e.g., demonstration on > 1 electrocardiogram (ECG) of a QTc interval > 450 milliseconds (ms)
• A history of additional risk factors for Torsade de Points (including but not limited to: heart failure, hypokalemia, family history of long QT syndrome)
• The use of concomitant medications that prolong the QT/QTc interval

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• 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: Treatment (psilocybin, therapy); Patients receive psilocybin PO and participate in group and individual therapy sessions on trial.	Other: Questionnaire Administration; Ancillary studies; Drug: Psilocybin; Given PO; Other Names: CY-39; Indocybin; psilocybine; Other: Counseling; Participate in therapy visits; Other Names: Counseling Intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Instances of Potentially Unattended Psilocybin-related Distress During Psilocybin Sessions.	Defined as the occurrence of participant distress among study participants in the small group during the psilocybin administration session on Day 0 that requires 1:1 facilitator attention that cannot be met by the 4-person facilitation team. The size of small groups of different sizes will vary over the course of the study. Descriptive statistics will be used to analyze and will be tabulated on Day 0 after each group intervention. Backup facilitators will be available when this occurs.	At psilocybin administration session on day 0

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Measured Anxiety and Depression: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)	The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a self-administered measure of depression and anxiety. The HADS is not a diagnostic tool, but can screen for anxiety and depression. The HADS has 14 items in total and asks about mood in the past week. Seven items assess depression and seven items assess anxiety. The HADS can be administered repeatedly without impacting on validity. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale and the total provides a score of 0 minimum up to 21 maximum. A higher score indicates higher distress.	From 14 days before the psilocybin session to 28 days (4 weeks) after the psilocybin session

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Washington
• Collaborators: Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Anthony Back, Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Back A, Myers S, Guy J, Perez J, Lazar Thorn L, McGregor B. Evolving Guidelines for the Use of Touch During a Clinical Trial of Group Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy. Psychedelic Med (New Rochelle). 2024 Dec 2;2(4):187-191. doi: 10.1089/psymed.2023.0069. eCollection 2024 Dec.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 27, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 8, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 17, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 26, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 8, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 5, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 22, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Neoplasms; Neoplastic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Neoplasm Metastasis; Heterocyclic Compounds; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Alkaloids; Indoles; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services; Community Health Services; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Indole Alkaloids; Indolizidines; Indolizines; Mental Health Services; Tryptamines; Psilocybin; Counseling
• Other Study ID Numbers: RG1123316 (Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium); NCI-2023-02948 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program)); FHIRB0020001 (Other Identifier: Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium)

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: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No