Targeted palliative care for people with metastatic breast cancer
Official title: Randomized Trial of a Targeted Palliative Care Intervention for Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11333288 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program offers a short series of focused palliative care visits to people with metastatic breast cancer who are likely to have limited time left.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $828,312 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA299956-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333288 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with metastatic breast cancer who have chart-based indicators suggesting a high risk of death within roughly 12 months are the intended candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with early-stage disease, those not at high near-term mortality risk, or those who do not want palliative care are unlikely to benefit from this targeted approach.
What this research studies
You would be identified using a validated prediction tool in your medical record and, if flagged, offered five targeted palliative care visits alongside your oncology care. The visits focus on symptom relief, talking through your goals and preferences, and planning for end-of-life care. The project randomly assigns eligible people to the targeted program or usual care to compare outcomes like hospice use, place of death, and receipt of aggressive treatments near the end of life. The team previously pilot-tested this approach (TARGET-PC) and will now run a larger trial at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people with metastatic breast cancer get care that better matches their wishes, increase hospice use, and reduce unwanted aggressive treatments near the end of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials integrating palliative and oncology care have improved end-of-life communication and care, and the team's pilot TARGET-PC showed promising results though larger randomized data in metastatic breast cancer are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Temel, Jennifer Sue — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Temel, Jennifer Sue
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.