Recruiting

NeuroPathways

Sponsor:

Massachusetts General Hospital

Code:

NCT05976490

Conditions

Malignant Brain Tumor

Glioma

Coping Skills

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Information and Support Intervention

Usual supportive care

Study Details

Brief summary:

This goal of this study is to test an information and support intervention for patients with malignant (or "high-grade") brain tumors. This study was developed to help patients cope after a brain tumor diagnosis. The main question this study aims to answer is whether this intervention (which includes access to an information guide and one-on-one coaching sessions) is feasible (i.e., possible to carry out) and acceptable (i.e., considered helpful) to patients. Participants will be asked to take part in the coaching sessions, use the guide as desired, and complete a small group of short surveys at three different points in time; some participants will be asked to share feedback via exit interviews.

Conditions

Malignant Brain Tumor

Glioma

Coping Skills

Study ID

NCT05976490

Start date

Nov 7, 2023

Status verified date

Dec, 2025

Completion date

Apr 10, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Sep 10, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥18
  • Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center patient
  • Within 6 weeks of diagnosis with a primary malignant brain tumor
  • Able to speak and read in English

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability to provide informed consent as assessed by the study team (e.g., due to neurological impairment such as severe cognitive impairment/dementia or moderate-to-severe receptive aphasia)
  • Deemed inappropriate to approach by patient's oncologist or study PI

Study Design

Enrollment

50 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: NeuroPathways Open Pilot

Enrolled patients will receive an intervention guide with information about navigating life with a brain tumor diagnosis, and will participate in four weekly or biweekly, individual sessions with a clinician (e.g. nurse or behavioral health specialist).

Participants will be asked to complete surveys at baseline, 8 weeks and 12 weeks, as well as an exit interview after the intervention.

experimental: NeuroPathways Pilot RCT

Enrolled patients will receive an intervention guide with information about navigating life with a brain tumor diagnosis, and will participate in four weekly or biweekly, individual sessions with a clinician (e.g. nurse or behavioral health specialist).

Participants will be asked to complete surveys at baseline, 8 weeks and 12 weeks.

active comparator: Usual supportive care

Participants will receive usual supportive care, which includes referral to cancer center supportive care services (e.g., social work) upon request from the patient, caregiver, or clinician.

Participants will be asked to complete surveys at baseline, 8 weeks and 12 weeks.

Interventions

Information and Support Intervention

Information guide and four one-on-one coaching sessions

Usual supportive care

Referral to cancer center supportive care services (e.g., social work) upon request from the patient, caregiver, or clinician

Primary outcome measure

  • Feasibility of the Intervention: Percentage of Eligible Patients Who Enroll and Participate in the Intervention [ Time Frame: 2 years ]
  • Acceptability of the Intervention: Percentage of Participants who Have High Satisfaction with the Intervention [ Time Frame: 2 years ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Deborah A Forst, MD

617-724-4000dforst@partners.org

Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

Recruiting

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114

Contacts

Deborah Forst, MA

617-726-2000dforst@partners.org

Principal Investigator:

Deborah Forst, MD

More Information

Sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Last update posted

Dec 17, 2025

Last verified

Dec, 2025

Keywords

  • glioma
  • supportive care
  • psychoeducation
  • information

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Massachusetts General Hospital on 2025-12-17.