Music-Based Therapy for Anxiety in Cancer Patients: AI Songwriting vs. Music Listening
Official title: Virtual AI-Assisted Music Therapy for Anxiety Symptoms in People With Advanced Cancer (VIRTUOSO)
Run by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · NCT07845422 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests two music-based approaches to see if they can reduce anxiety in adults with advanced cancer who are in treatment.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 240 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 7 sites (Basking Ridge, New Jersey and 6 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 4, 2026 |
| Main results expected | September 2029 |
| Study ends | September 2029 |
| Registry record updated | October 14, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07845422 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults with advanced or certain stage IV cancers (and specific stage III cancers listed), currently under oncologic treatment, English-speaking, ambulatory, with elevated anxiety (HADS anxiety subscale ≥8) and a life expectancy >6 months as judged by the oncologist.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients without clinically significant anxiety or who do not meet the eligibility criteria may not experience benefit from these music-based approaches.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants with certain advanced cancers who are currently receiving cancer treatment and have notable anxiety will be randomized to either AI-assisted collaborative songwriting with a music therapist or time- and attention-matched music listening with discussions about music culture. The study will explore whether these approaches reduce anxiety, improve feelings of social connection, and influence coping strategies, and whether these changes relate to lower anxiety scores. Both arms use structured music activities, differing mainly in AI-powered songwriting versus listening and reflection sessions. The trial does not specify a traditional pharmacologic intervention and focuses on patient-reported anxiety outcomes and psychosocial effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience reduced anxiety and better coping, plus enhanced social connectedness during cancer treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests music-based interventions can help with anxiety and mood, but AI-assisted songwriting for cancer-related anxiety is a newer approach requiring further validation.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Criteria: * Patients must have a pathologically confirmed advanced cancer diagnosis: stage III or IV lung cancer; any stage pancreatic cancer, unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, unresectable liver cancer, unresectable ampullary or peri-ampullary cancer, or other stage IV gastrointestinal cancer; stage III or IV ovarian or fallopian tube cancers or other stage IV gynecologic cancer; stage IV breast cancer; stage III testicular cancer or any stage IV genitourinary cancer; stage IV sarcoma; stage IV melanoma; stage IV endocrine cancer; lymphoma, myeloma, or leukemia * Currently receiving oncological treatment * Age ≥ 18; English speaking * Ambulatory as indicated by a Karnofsky performance score of 60 or higher * Score of 8 or higher on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety subscale * Anxiety symptoms lasting for at least 1 month * Greater than 6-month expected survival as judged by the treating oncologist or clinician on the study team * No diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse * Score of 10 or lower on Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration * No prior receipt of music therapy within the past six months * Not currently receiving any form of psychotherapy * Concomitant Medications * No initiation or change in scheduled anxiety medications (e.g., anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants) within the past 4 weeks * Initiation or change in PRN anxiety medications are allowed within the past 4 weeks * No plan to initiate or change scheduled anxiety medications during the study * Initiation or change in PRN anxiety medications are allowed during the study * Access to an internet-connected device * Able to provide informed consent * Willing to adhere to study procedures, including randomization, session attendance, and completion of assessments
Where it's running
-
Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge (All protocol activities)
Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States Recruiting -
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (All protocol activities)
Middletown, New Jersey, United States Recruiting -
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (All protocol activities)
Montvale, New Jersey, United States Recruiting -
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Suffolk - Commack (All protocol activities)
Commack, New York, United States Recruiting -
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (All protocol activities)
Harrison, New York, United States Recruiting -
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All protocol activites)
New York, New York, United States Recruiting
Show 1 more location
-
Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (All protocol activities)
Uniondale, New York, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kevin Liou, MD — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Kevin Liou, MD
- Email: liouk@mskcc.org
- Phone: 646-608-8558
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Retifanlimab after chemoradiation for anal cancer
This study tests whether retifanlimab can help people with anal squamous cell carcinoma who have completed chemoradiation and still have residual disease.
-
Different skin care approaches to prevent skin reactions after mastectomy radiation
This study tests three standard skin care methods to see which best prevents radiation dermatitis in people who had a mastectomy and are receiving post-mastectomy radiation therapy.
-
Graft-versus-host disease after stem cell transplant: testing LBP-MARCO with ruxolitinib
We are testing whether combining LBP-MARCO with ruxolitinib is safe for adults with GVHD after a stem cell transplant.
-
68Ga-FAPI PET/MRI imaging to see if it can track breast cancer response to chemotherapy
This study tests whether a new imaging scan, 68Ga-FAPI PET/MRI, can show how well invasive breast cancer responds to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in adults.
-
Can we skip radiation after lumpectomy for low-risk HER2-positive breast cancer?
This study tests whether patients who had breast-conserving surgery and low-risk HER2-positive breast cancer can safely skip radiation therapy while receiving HER2-targeted treatment.
-
Combination of ivermectin with standard skin-protective care for daraxonrasib-related skin toxicity in pancreatic cancer
This study tests whether adding ivermectin to standard preventive skin care helps people with pancreatic cancer who develop skin side effects from daraxonrasib.
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.