Bright light therapy for sleep and biological aging in people with lung cancer
Bright Light Therapy to Reduce Sleep Disturbance and Biological Aging in Lung Cancer Patients
This study will test whether daily bright light for four weeks improves sleep and slows biological aging in people with stage IB–IIIB lung cancer who have insomnia.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Henry Ford Health System Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | immunotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Detroit, Michigan) |
| Trial ID | NCT07064395 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults with stage IB–IIIB lung cancer and problematic sleep are randomized to daily bright light exposure or usual light for four weeks. Participants keep a daily sleep log, complete self-reported sleep, fatigue, and stress surveys, and give blood samples at baseline and four weeks for clinical biomarker tests to estimate biological age. The trial compares changes in sleep onset latency, sleep disturbance, sleep efficiency, and calculated biological age between the bright light and control groups. Key eligibility includes ECOG 0–1, at least two months since completion of primary therapy, and exclusion criteria such as metastatic disease, oxygen therapy, certain eye conditions, photosensitizing medications, shift work, and current treatment for specific sleep disorders.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (≥18) with stage IB–IIIB primary lung cancer who finished primary therapy at least two months ago, have ECOG performance status 0–1, meet criteria for problematic sleep (Insomnia Severity Index ≥8), are sighted and mentally competent to consent, and can attend the Detroit site.
Not a fit: Patients with metastatic cancer, those on oxygen therapy, pregnant women, people with glaucoma or retinal disease or other light-triggered problems, those taking photosensitizing medications, current treatment for sleep apnea/restless legs/narcolepsy, users of prescribed sedative hypnotics or antipsychotics, and recent shift workers or frequent travelers are unlikely to benefit or are excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could reduce sleep problems, lower fatigue and stress, and potentially slow biological aging, improving overall quality of life for lung cancer survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Bright light therapy is well established for circadian and seasonal affective disorders and has shown promising effects on sleep and fatigue in some cancer settings, but applying it to slow biological aging in lung cancer patients is a novel approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * \>=18 years of age * Stage Ib to IIIb primary lung cancer diagnosis * \>=2 months after completion of primary therapy, patient can continue to be on maintenance/immunotherapy * ECOG performance status is 0 or 1 * Experience problematic sleep (scores of \>=8 on the Insomnia Severity Index) * Able to understand, speak, and read English * Sighted and mentally competent to consent Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women * Have metastatic cancer * on oxygen therapy * Current diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder or substance abuse * Engage in shift work or travel across \>3 time zones within 2 weeks prior to the study * Are currently being treated for sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, or narcolepsy * Take prescribed sedative hypnotics or antipsychotics * Have eye conditions (glaucoma or retinal disease), problem triggered by bright light (e.g., migraine), or take photosensitizing medications (e.g., some porphyrin drugs, antipsychotics, antiarrhythmic agents) * Participants with an Insomnia Severity Index \<8 * Participants with cognitive impairment (sores of \<3 mini-cog test)
Where this trial is running
Detroit, Michigan
- Henry Ford Health System — Detroit, Michigan, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Menghua Tao, PhD
- Email: mtao1@hfhs.org
- Phone: 313-590-9408
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.