Referral to palliative care for cancer patients in emergency rooms

A Randomized Comparative Prospective Multicenter Study of the Efficacy of a Systematic Referral to Palliative Care of Patients Who Need for Palliative Care During an Unscheduled Visit in Comprehensive Anticancer Centers

This study is testing if sending cancer patients in emergency rooms to palliative care teams can improve their health and comfort compared to regular care.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 240 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Centre Leon Berard (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, immunotherapy
• Locations: 6 sites (Lyon and 5 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06150027 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness of systematically referring cancer patients in emergency rooms to palliative care teams compared to standard care. It is a randomized, multicenter, prospective study conducted in French Regional Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Patients with a PALLIA-10 score greater than 3 will be included and randomized into either a standard care group or an experimental group receiving palliative care referrals. The study aims to assess the impact of early palliative care on patient outcomes over a 12-month period.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer requiring palliative management during an unscheduled emergency visit.

Not a fit: Patients who are treated with curative intent or those unable to provide informed consent due to lack of consciousness will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve the quality of life and care for cancer patients experiencing emergencies.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown that early palliative care can significantly improve patient outcomes, suggesting this approach may be beneficial.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female ≥ 18 years at the day of consenting to the study;
* Confirmed diagnosis of any type of solid or haematology tumours, with or without Current oncological treatment, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, etc;
* Unscheduled admission in a French Regional Comprehensive Anti-Cancer Centre due to an acute, unpredictable, intercurrent event related to cancer, its therapies or a comorbidity;
* Patient for whom disease is considered as not curable;
* PALLIA-10 Score \> 3/10;
* Willingness and ability to comply with the study requirements;
* Signed and dated informed consent indicating that the patient has been informed of all the aspects of the trial prior to enrolment;
* Patient must be covered by a medical insurance.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient without consciousness, unable to provide a written informed consent (context of emergency);
* Patient treated with a curative intent;
* Previous randomization in this clinical study;
* Patients already followed-up by a palliative care team;
* Life expectancy shorter than 1 month, as per the emergency units' staff judgement.
* Any medical or psychosocial condition that would compromise the patient's compliance to the study visits or would likely interfere with the completion of Patient-Reported Outcomes.
* Patients under tutorship or curatorship.

Where this trial is running

Lyon and 5 other locations

• Centre Léon Bérard — Lyon, France (Recruiting)
• ICM Val d'Aurelle — Montpellier, France (Recruiting)
• Institut Curie - Paris — Paris, France (Recruiting)
• Institut Curie - Saint Cloud — Saint-Cloud, France (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine — Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France (Recruiting)
• Institut Gustave Roussy — Villejuif, France (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Gisèle CHVETZOFF, MD,PhD — Centre Leon Berard
• Study coordinator: Gisèle CHVETZOFF, MD, PhD

Conditions Cancer; Emergencies; Early palliative care; Aggressiveness of care; Emergency