Improving symptom management for young adults with advanced cancer

Improving Symptom Management for Adolescents and Young Adults with Advanced Cancer: Development and Pilot Testing of a Novel Intervention

NIH-funded research Duke University · NIH-10527066

This study is looking to create and try out a new support program to help teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 29 with advanced cancer manage their symptoms and emotional challenges better, because they often need different kinds of care than what’s usually offered.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDuke University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Durham, United States)
Project IDNIH-10527066 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing and testing a new intervention aimed at improving the management of symptoms experienced by adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 15 to 29 who are diagnosed with advanced cancer. The project recognizes that AYAs face unique challenges, including high levels of psychological distress and physical symptoms, which are often overlooked in traditional palliative care. By creating a tailored psychosocial support program, the research seeks to address the specific needs of this age group during a critical developmental period. The intervention will be evaluated for its feasibility and acceptability among participants.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 29 who have been diagnosed with advanced cancer.

Not a fit: Patients outside the age range of 15 to 29 or those with early-stage cancer may not receive benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance the quality of life for young adults with advanced cancer by providing targeted support for their unique symptom management needs.

How similar studies have performed: While there has been limited research specifically targeting AYAs with advanced cancer, similar psychosocial interventions for other age groups have shown promise in improving symptom management.

Where this research is happening

Durham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.