Which palliative care approach boosts quality of life in advanced lung cancer?

NCT ID NCT03337399

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 03, 2026 · Last updated Aug 04, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looks at two ways of delivering palliative care—specialized support to ease symptoms and stress—for people recently diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. One approach starts with basic palliative care and adds more if needed, while the other provides full palliative care right away. The goal is to see which approach better improves patients' quality of life and helps them discuss their care preferences with their doctors.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Palliative care delivered in two different ways: stepped (starting with basic support and adding more if needed) versus early integrated (full palliative care from the start)
What this could lead to: If one approach proves better, it could point toward a standard way to deliver palliative care that improves quality of life for people with advanced lung cancer.
What could go wrong: The trial is early and results may not apply to all patients. Palliative care aims to ease symptoms, but it cannot cure the cancer, and individual experiences may vary.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

lung cancer lung neoplasm mesothelioma non-small cell lung carcinoma small cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

LUNG CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

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