Social relationships, physical activity, and quality of life in young adult cancer patients
Social Health, Activity Behaviors, and Quality of Life Among Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Longitudinal Study
This project will see if social relationships affect exercise and well-being for young adults (ages 18-39) recently diagnosed with early-stage cancer.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 250 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 39 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Southern California Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT07259304 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a longitudinal observational study following young adult cancer patients treated at USC to map how social health changes after diagnosis and how those changes relate to activity behaviors and quality of life. Participants complete 40-minute surveys and wear an ActiGraph GT3X-BT accelerometer continuously for 7 days at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. The team will characterize social health trajectories, link social measures with objectively measured physical activity over time, and examine how sociodemographic and clinical factors modify these relationships. Findings aim to identify targets for future interventions to support social ties and healthy activity patterns in this age group.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are young adults aged 18-39 treated at USC hospitals with a recent (within 3 months) de novo diagnosis of early-stage (typically I-III) cancer who have an anticipated survival of greater than one year and can wear an accelerometer and complete surveys.
Not a fit: Patients with hematologic malignancies excluded by the protocol, non-English speakers, those with limited life expectancy, or patients with advanced stage IV disease without PI approval are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to ways to help young adults keep supportive relationships and stay active, which may improve their quality of life during and after treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked social support to physical activity and quality of life in cancer survivors, but few longitudinal studies using wearable activity monitors specifically in young adult oncology populations have been done.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed and/or treated with cancer between ages 18-39 at USC hospitals. * Cancer types prototypical for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and cancer stages I-III; select patients with stage IV disease may be eligible, with approval by the principal investigator (PI) and in consultation with the treating clinician. * Must be within three months of a de novo cancer diagnosis at recruitment and on/indicated for curative therapy (any modality). Patients may continue on adjuvant therapy throughout duration of the study. * Patients must have anticipated survival of \>1-year at time of diagnosis. Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of blood malignancies such as leukemias (these cancers have divergent treatment patterns of longer duration than other cancers and are more commonly pediatric cancers). Some early stage lymphomas with favorable prognoses may be eligible, with approval by the PI and in consultation with the treating clinician. * Primary language other than English or Spanish. * Inability to complete a survey and/or wear an accelerometer either per the patient or in consultation with the clinician's judgment.
Where this trial is running
Los Angeles, California
- USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center — Los Angeles, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kimberly Miller, PhD — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Kimberly A Miller, PhD
- Email: kim.miller@med.usc.edu
- Phone: 323-865-0674
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.