Guided meditation during radiation for breast and gynecologic cancers
Official title: Med-RT BG: An Interventional Trial Using Guided Meditation During Radiation Therapy for Breast and Gynecological Malignancies
Run by University of Utah · NCT07166042 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether short guided meditations played during daily radiation can reduce anxiety for adults receiving radiation for breast or gynecologic cancer.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 34 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Utah Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (Salt Lake City, Utah) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 25, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | September 30, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | October 3, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07166042 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are English-speaking adults (≥18 years) with breast or gynecologic cancer planning to receive 15–25 daily radiation therapy fractions, with KPS ≥60 or ECOG ≤2, who have not had prior radiation and are willing to be assigned to either intervention or control.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with active suicidal ideation or psychosis, those receiving deep inspiration breath hold, non-English speakers, those with prior radiation, or people who do not experience RT-related anxiety are less likely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Adults with breast or gynecologic cancer who are scheduled for 15–25 daily radiation therapy sessions are enrolled and assigned to either a brief guided meditation or a standard-of-care control during their RT visits. The intervention consists of 10–15 minute audio-recorded mindfulness-guided meditations delivered at treatment sessions. Key eligibility includes age ≥18, adequate performance status (KPS ≥60 or ECOG ≤2), English proficiency, no prior radiation, and not receiving deep inspiration breath hold. The study measures patient-reported anxiety and related outcomes across the radiation course to see if in-session meditation reduces distress.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience less anxiety and greater comfort during daily radiation, which could improve treatment tolerance and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller trials and pilot studies of mindfulness and audio-guided interventions in oncology have reported reduced anxiety and distress, but few large phase 3 trials during radiation therapy have been completed.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participant aged ≥ 18 years. * Diagnosis of breast or gynelogical cancer. * Eligible to receive 15-25 daily radiation therapy treatments for breast or gynelogical cancer. * Willing to participate in either the guided meditation or standard of care control arm, regardless of treatment assignment. * Karnofsky performance score ≥ 60 or ECOG performance score ≤ 2. * Able to provide informed consent and willing to sign an approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines. Exclusion Criteria: * Active suicidal ideation or active psychotic state in the opinion of the investigator. * Patient is receiving deep inspiration breath hold treatment. * An unstable illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with study treatment. * Prior radiation therapy. * Inability to understand and/or speak the English language.
Where it's running
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Huntsman Cancer Institute at University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Lindsay Burt, MD — Huntsman Cancer Institute
- Study coordinator: Rachel R. Kingford
- Email: rachel.kingsford@hci.utah.edu
- Phone: 801-585-0115
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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.