ASCENT: an ACT-based support program for adults with malignant brain tumors
Official title: An ACT-Based Supportive Intervention for Patients With Central Nervous System Tumors
Run by Massachusetts General Hospital · NCT06099743 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether a six-session ACT-based coaching program (ASCENT) helps adults newly diagnosed with malignant brain tumors manage distress and cope better.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Massachusetts General Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 15, 2025 |
| Main results expected | March 1, 2029 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | October 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06099743 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are English-speaking adults (≥18) who are patients at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center within six months of a malignant primary CNS tumor diagnosis and able to provide informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with severe cognitive impairment, moderate to severe receptive aphasia, current or imminent hospice enrollment, or those not receiving care at MGH or diagnosed more than six months prior may not benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
ASCENT is a population-specific, ACT-based psychosocial intervention designed for people newly diagnosed with malignant brain tumors. The team is first refining the program using feedback from 15 stakeholders and an open pilot of 10 participants. After refinement, the investigators will run a pilot randomized trial (about 100 participants) comparing the ASCENT intervention to usual supportive care. Participants will complete six coaching sessions, short surveys at four time points, and some will be asked to provide feedback in interviews.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, ASCENT could reduce psychological distress and improve coping and day-to-day functioning after a malignant brain tumor diagnosis.
How similar studies have gone: ACT-based and other psychosocial interventions have shown promise in cancer populations, but a population-specific intervention for malignant brain tumor patients is a novel application.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 * Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center Patient * Diagnosed with a malignant primary Central Nervous System (CNS) tumor * English speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to provide informed consent as assessed by the study team (e.g., due to severe cognitive impairment/dementia) * Moderate to severe receptive aphasia (Quick Aphasia Battery sentence comprehension subscale \< 8) * Deemed by treating team to have less than 6 month life expectancy, including patients with current or imminent hospice enrollment * Current participant in the NeuroTransitions (23-574) or NeuroPathways (23-178) studies at Massachusetts General Hospital * Diagnosis of Primary CNS Lymphoma
Where it's running
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Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Deborah A Forst, MD — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Deborah A Forst, MD
- Email: dforst@mgb.org
- Phone: 617-724-4000
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.