Can a chaplain or therapist extend life in advanced cancer? large trial aims to find out
NCT ID NCT07290491
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 3 trial is testing whether adding chaplain-provided spiritual care or psychotherapy/meditation to standard palliative care can improve survival and quality of life in people with advanced, non-curable cancer. About 854 participants with a life expectancy of one year or less will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: standard care plus palliative measures, standard care plus chaplain spiritual sessions, or standard care plus psychotherapy/meditation. The study aims to see if emotional and spiritual support can make a real difference in how long patients live and how they feel.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
chaplain-provided spiritual care or psychotherapy/meditation
What this could lead to
If it works, this could show that spiritual and emotional support alongside standard care helps people with advanced cancer live longer and feel better.
What could go wrong
This is a large phase 3 trial, but the intervention is behavioral, not a drug, so survival benefits may be modest or hard to prove. Results may not apply to all cancer types.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center
RECRUITINGHouston, Texas, 77030, United States
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