Home › Trials › NCT07278739
Clinical trial Recruiting at 7 sites Interventional Ages 18 and up

Educational program to support goals of care conversations for patients with solid cancers

Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Intervention Called "Algorithm-Enabled Patients Activated in Cancer Care Through Teams" (A-PACT) to Improve Goals of Care Communication for People With Cancer

Run by SWOG Cancer Research Network · NCT07278739 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A-PACT is a program where trained lay health workers help adults with solid tumors talk with their care teams about goals of care and end-of-life preferences to see if it lowers unplanned hospital visits.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment1020 (estimated)
SponsorSWOG Cancer Research Network
Research network
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, immunotherapy
Locations7 sites (Little Rock, Arkansas and 6 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedAugust 7, 2026
Main results expectedJanuary 1, 2032
Study endsJuly 21, 2032
Registry record updatedOctober 9, 2026
Trial IDNCT07278739 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults with any stage solid tumor who are high-risk by ML-derived 6-month mortality estimates (≥20%), not currently entering hospice, and planning or receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy within 3 months.

Probably not a fit

Patients not at high risk, or those not planning to pursue systemic therapy, may not experience the same benefits.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional study tests the Algorithm-Enabled Patients Activated in Cancer Care Through Teams (A-PACT) educational program for adults with solid tumors at high risk of poor outcomes. The goal is to reduce unplanned hospitalizations within 12 months and to improve goals-of-care conversations with providers. The program includes educators who assist patients in formulating care preferences, completing advance directives, and engaging family and clinicians in these discussions. Secondary and exploratory aims examine anxiety, depression, use of intensive end-of-life care, and factors affecting implementation, including feasibility and fidelity. Enrollment and delivery are monitored alongside machine learning-based risk stratification to guide participation across participating sites.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience fewer unplanned hospital visits and clearer alignment of care with their preferences.

How similar studies have gone: Prior similar educational and patient-activated approaches in oncology have shown potential to improve communication and reduce hospital utilization, but results vary by setting.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants must have a diagnosis of a solid tumor malignancy of any stage
* Participants must be identified as high risk, defined as having 6 month mortality estimate from machine learning (ML) algorithm \>= 20%
* Participants must not be receiving or have pre-existing plans to enter hospice care at the time of study registration
* Participant must be actively receiving or planning to receive systemic anti-cancer therapy (defined as any oral, injection, or intravenous therapy against cancer) within 3 months after registration

  * NOTE: This includes chemotherapy (conventional or cytotoxic chemotherapy), hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy
  * NOTE: Participants are allowed to be co-enrolled on other clinical trials including trials using investigational agents
* Participants must be \>= 18 years of age at the time of study enrollment
* Participants who can complete Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) questionnaires in English or Spanish must be willing to 1) complete PROs at all scheduled assessments; and 2) complete the pre-registration (baseline) PRO forms within 14 days prior to registration
* Participants must be able to provide a valid telephone number for the purpose of being contacted by the lay health worker
* NOTE: As a part of the Oncology Patient Enrollment Network (OPEN) registration process the treating institution's identity is provided in order to ensure that the current (within 365 days) date of institutional review board approval for this study has been entered in the system

  * Patient and clinician participants must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and must sign and give informed consent in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines. This protocol does not permit use of Legally Authorized Representative NOTE: For this study, in the OPEN registration, clinician participants will be listed as their own treating investigator. However, clinician participants must not consent themselves or sign their own eligibility criteria forms

Where it's running

  • CARTI Cancer Center
    Little Rock, Arkansas, United States     Recruiting
  • Queen's Medical Center
    Honolulu, Hawaii, United States     Recruiting
  • Carle at The Riverfront
    Danville, Illinois, United States     Recruiting
  • Carle Physician Group-Effingham
    Effingham, Illinois, United States     Recruiting
  • Carle Physician Group-Mattoon/Charleston
    Mattoon, Illinois, United States     Recruiting
  • Carle Cancer Institute Normal
    Normal, Illinois, United States     Recruiting
Show 1 more location
  • Carle Cancer Center
    Urbana, Illinois, United States     Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Ravi B Parikh — SWOG Cancer Research Network
  • Study coordinator: Patricia O'Kane
  • Email: pokane@swog.org
  • Phone: 2106148808

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ Find more trials like this →
Browse more
Malignant Solid Neoplasm 97SWOG Cancer Research Network 31
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.