Evaluation of a Mindfulness Intervention to Prevent Chemo-brain in Women Preparing for Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

December 1, 2025 updated by: Thomas Jefferson University

Pilot Feasibility Evaluation of a Mindfulness (Mindfulness) Intervention in Women Preparing for Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

This clinical trial tests how well a mindfulness intervention helps the prevention of chemotherapy-brain (chemo-brain) in women preparing for chemotherapy for breast cancer. Cognitive dysfunction after chemotherapy has been well-documented. Factors that have been used to document and/or have been correlated with chemo brain include self-report and structural brain changes including volume loss. Mindfulness is a type of meditation practice that can be learned to support well-being and decrease stress. Mindfulness is an approach that helps the person increase their awareness of the present moment without judgement. There are data that mindfulness may increase attention and concentration which may prevent some of the side effects from chemotherapy

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Assess the feasibility of an 8-week mindfulness intervention in women preparing for chemotherapy for breast cancer.

II. Evaluate cognitive dysfunction related factors as an exploratory objective: cognitive function, quality of life, inflammatory markers, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain imaging, and a record of mindfulness practice.

OUTLINE:

Patients participate in a mindfulness program composed of topics that include mindfulness of breathing and the body scan, mindful eating, mindful activity, mindfulness in daily life, expanding the field of awareness, and maintaining a flexible mindfulness practice weekly over 2.5 hours for 8 weeks. Patients also undergo blood sample collection and fMRI on the study.

After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up at 3 months.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

15

Phase

  • 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
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19107
        • Thomas Jefferson University Hopsital

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 years or older
  • Breast cancer diagnosis preparing to undergo chemotherapy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Under the age of 18
  • Cannot provide informed consent

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: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Supportive care (mindfulness program)
Patients participate in a mindfulness program composed of topics that include mindfulness of breathing and the body scan, mindful eating, mindful activity, mindfulness in daily life, expanding the field of awareness, and maintaining a flexible mindfulness practice weekly over 2.5 hours for 8 weeks. Patients also undergo blood sample collection and fMRI on the study.
Other: Questionnaire Administration
Ancillary studies
Procedure: Biospecimen Collection
Undergo blood sample collection
Other Names:
  • Biological Sample Collection
  • Biospecimen Collected
  • Specimen Collection
Procedure: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Undergo fMRI
Other Names:
  • fMRI
  • FUNCTIONAL MRI
Behavioral: Mindfulness Relaxation
Participate in mindfulness program
Other Names:
  • MBSR
  • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
  • Mindfulness Meditation
  • Mindful Meditation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Participation rate
Time Frame: Up to 1 year
Will be determined by 75% of the participants will participate in at least 6 of the 8 mindfulness sessions.
Up to 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Thomas Jefferson University

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)

November 13, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 14, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

November 3, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 12, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 12, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

January 23, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 8, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 1, 2025

Last Verified

December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • iRISID-2023-2430
  • JT 32145 (Other Identifier: JeffTrial Number)

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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