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Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 and up

TA-DA: a patient decision tool to help with treatment choices after second-line therapy

Official title: Development of an Educational Patient Decision Aid (Treatments in Advanced Cancer - Decision Aid, TA-DA) to Promote Shared Decision Making for Third-line or Beyond Palliative Systemic Therapy

Run by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · NCT07009886 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project will test a patient decision aid (TA-DA) to help adults with advanced cancer who have already received at least two lines of palliative systemic therapy talk with their clinicians about third-line or later treatment options.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment155 (estimated)
SponsorM.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Houston, Texas)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJuly 10, 2025
Main results expectedJuly 31, 2028
Study endsJuly 31, 2030
Registry record updatedAugust 12, 2026
Trial IDNCT07009886 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults (18+) with advanced (metastatic, relapsed, or incurable) cancer who have received at least two prior lines of palliative systemic therapy, are English-speaking, able to make treatment decisions, and meet the study ECOG performance status criteria.

Probably not a fit

Patients who are not considering further systemic therapy, who have significant cognitive impairment, are non-English speakers, or who cannot meet the ECOG/functional criteria may not benefit from this decision aid.

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

What this trial studies

The work will use a three-part approach: qualitative interviews with patients, caregivers, and clinicians to identify decision-making needs; a user-centered design process to create and refine the TA-DA tool; and a pilot randomized trial to estimate the tool's effect on patient knowledge about treatment options. The intervention is an educational communication aid intended to promote shared decision making for third-line or beyond palliative systemic therapy. Secondary outcomes will include measures of illness understanding, preparation for decision making, decisional conflict, quality of shared decision making, decisional regret, therapeutic alliance, and anxiety. The study is conducted at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and includes clinician, patient, and caregiver participants.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the TA-DA could help patients better understand their options and make treatment choices that match their goals and values.

How similar studies have gone: Similar patient decision aids in oncology have improved patient knowledge and reduced decisional conflict, but using a decision aid specifically for third-line or beyond palliative systemic therapy is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Clinicians (Part I/II/III):

   MD Anderson medical oncologists and APPs who provide care to patients with advanced cancer
2. Patients (Part I/II/III):

   Age 18 or over
   * Diagnosis of advanced cancer (i.e., metastatic, relapsed, and/or incurable disease as defined by the treating oncologist) who has received at least 2 lines of palliative systemic therapy\*
   * Patient-rated ECOG performance status of 1-3 for Part I/II and 2-3 for Part III
   * Able to make treatment decisions based on the clinical judgement of the oncology team
   * English speaking

     * patient has started, is receiving, and/or has completed second-line palliative systemic therapy or beyond
3. Caregivers (Part I/II/III):

   * Age 18 or older
   * Currently a primary caregiver to a patient who satisfies the patient eligibility criteria listed above
   * For the study purposes, a primary caregiver is defined as:

     * someone who provides physical, emotional, decisional and/or logistical assistance to the patient regularly (e.g. daily, weekly);
     * can be a family member, friend, or other individual in a close relationship with the patient;
     * must be identified by the patient and self-identify as the primary person providing caregiving support to the patient
   * Able to provide informed consent and participate in the study
   * English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

Any patient who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

* (Part I/II/III): Diagnosis of cognitive impairment or dementia requiring a surrogate decision maker as determined by the clinical team
* (Part III only): Participants in Part I and II

Where it's running

  • The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
    Houston, Texas, United States     Recruiting

Study contacts

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.
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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.