Outpatient Health Care Program for Older Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer or Colon Cancer

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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RATIONALE: Gathering health information from older patients undergoing chemotherapy may help doctors plan better treatment and improve the quality of life for these patients. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well an outpatient health care program works for older patients receiving chemotherapy for newly diagnosed breast cancer or colon cancer.

Detailed Description
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OBJECTIVES: Primary Determine the effect of a 1-year geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) program on adherence to adjuvant chemotherapy (defined as tolerance and timely completion of planned dose) in patients with newly diagnosed breast or colon cancer. Secondary Evaluate the effect of a 1-year GEM program on the health-related quality of life and functional, cognitive, and mental status of these patients. Evaluate the effect of a 1-year GEM program on 3-year disease-free survival of these patients. Compare the number of emergency room visits, acute hospitalizations, and associated Medicare costs within the first 12 months following randomization to a GEM program vs no program. OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to tumor site (breast vs colon). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. Arm I (intervention): Patients complete health-related quality-of-life (QOL) and comprehensive geriatric assessment questionnaires at baseline, within 30 days after chemotherapy or at 6 months, and then at 12-13 months to assess functional status (i.e., activities of daily living), comorbidity (i.e., medical problems), medications, mood and memory, nutrition, and social support from family members and friends. Patients receive a home visit from a social worker and visit the Senior Adult Oncology clinic within 1 month after the first course of chemotherapy. The clinic staff develops an individualized care plan for the patient and communicates the results of the assessment questionnaires and their recommendations (e.g., medication and/or specialty referrals) to the patient's primary care provider and oncologist. The staff meets weekly to monitor and update the patient care plan. Patients are followed in the Senior Adult Oncology clinic at least every 3 months for 1 year. Follow-up telephone calls and in-home visits are also conducted as needed. Patients are also assessed prior to each course of chemotherapy for toxicities related to the chemotherapy. Arm II (control): Patients complete a health-related QOL questionnaire at baseline, within 30 days after chemotherapy or at 6 months, and then at 12-13 months. Patients receive oncology and primary care by their usual health care providers. After completion of the study intervention, patients' medical charts are reviewed periodically for up to 2 years.

Official Title
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A Randomized Controlled Trial of Outpatient Geriatric Evaluation and Management Among Older Patients With Breast and Colon Cancer

Conditions
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Breast Cancer, Cognitive/Functional Effects, Colorectal Cancer, Psychosocial Effects of Cancer and Its Treatment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: chemotherapy
* Other: medical chart review
* Other: questionnaire administration
* Procedure: adjuvant therapy
* Procedure: assessment of therapy complications
* Procedure: cognitive assessment
* Procedure: psychosocial assessment and care
* Procedure: quality-of-life assessment


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma, including one of the following: Breast cancer (female), meeting the following criteria: Stage I-III (T1-4, N0-3, M0) disease Has undergone complete surgical removal of invasive cancer by mastectomy or lumpectomy Has undergone either sentinel lymph node dissection or axillary lymph node dissection with adequate TNM staging Colon cancer (male or female), meeting the following criteria: Stage I-III (T1-3, any N, M0) disease Has undergone appropriate surgical resection with TNM staging Newly diagnosed disease Scheduled to receive chemotherapy Agrees to receive chemotherapy AND is able to receive chemotherapy within 3 months after surgery No distant metastases Hormone receptor status not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Menopausal status not specified Life expectancy ≥ 6 months Fluent in English Not living in a nursing home No end-stage disease No severe dementia No other clinically active malignancy within the past 5 years or within 3 months after diagnosis of current malignancy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: See Disease Characteristics No prior chemotherapy for the malignancy More than 1 year since prior treatment on an inpatient/outpatient geriatric evaluation and management unit

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Drug: chemotherapy|nan|
|Other: medical chart review|nan|
|Other: questionnaire administration|nan|
|Procedure: adjuvant therapy|nan|
|Procedure: assessment of therapy complications|nan|
|Procedure: cognitive assessment|nan|
|Procedure: psychosocial assessment and care|nan|
|Procedure: quality-of-life assessment|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chemotherapy tolerability as measured by dose reduction, treatment delay, and incidence of grade 3-5 toxicities |  |  | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mean change in comprehensive geriatric assessment scores and quality-of-life scores from baseline to post-chemotherapy and from baseline to 12 months following randomization |  |  | 
| Number of emergency room visits, acute hospitalizations, and associated Medicare costs within the first 12 months following randomization |  |  | 
| 3-year disease-free survival |  |  | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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cognitive/functional effects, psychosocial effects of cancer and its treatment, stage I breast cancer, stage II breast cancer, stage IIIA breast cancer, stage IIIB breast cancer, stage IIIC breast cancer, adenocarcinoma of the colon, stage I colon cancer, stage II colon cancer, stage III colon cancer