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Symptom science research conducted in community programs funded by the US National Cancer Institute: a 12-year review, 2008 to 2019

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was conducted to describe the portfolio of symptom science research conducted through the community oncology network supported by the US National Cancer Institute during the 12-year period 2008 to 2019.

Methods

The National Cancer Institute conducted a retrospective review of the National Cancer Institute database to identify pediatric and adult symptom management studies that were opened between 2008 and 2019 in the community oncology network and to determine types of studies, accrual patterns, completed studies, and number of publications reporting clinical trial results.

Results

The NCI community oncology network conducted 109 symptom studies between 2008 and 2019. The majority of these studies were phase II and III clinical trials. Neurotoxicities were the most frequently occurring symptom studied, with the majority of those focused on neurocognitive impairments. Gastrointestinal symptoms, pain, and fatigue were the next most frequently studied. A variety of interventions were utilized including pharmacologic, behavioral, complementary and alternative medicines, and radiation therapy. Accrual to symptom studies ranged from a low of 896 participants in 2008 to a high of 3468 participants in 2012. The number of open studies ranged from 8 in 2008 to 35 in 2012.

Conclusions

Examining the symptom science portfolio of the NCI community oncology network has identified research gaps and has highlighted the need to focus on a mechanistic understanding of symptoms and phenotyping of patients experiencing cancer and treatment-related symptoms. Subsequently, targeted interventions can be developed to prevent or treat these symptoms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

    Diane St. Germain, Worta McCaskill Stevens & Ann O’Mara

Authors
  1. Diane St. Germain
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  2. Worta McCaskill Stevens
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  3. Ann O’Mara
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. The data analysis was solicited by Worta McCaskill-Stevens (Director, NCI Community Oncology Research Program). Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Diane St. Germain and Ann O’Mara. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Ann O’Mara and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Diane St. Germain.

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Key message

This article describes symptom science conducted through the community oncology network supported by the US National Cancer Institute over the recent 12-year period. One hundred and nine studies were identified, the majority of which were phase II and III clinical trials testing an agent. The most frequent symptom studied was neurotoxicity, with most of those trials focused on neurocognition.

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Germain, D.S., Stevens, W.M. & O’Mara, A. Symptom science research conducted in community programs funded by the US National Cancer Institute: a 12-year review, 2008 to 2019. Support Care Cancer 30, 4739–4746 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-06875-0

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