Enhanced Pain Coping in Cancer (EPIC): A Study of Managing Treatment-Related Joint Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors

Last updated: May 12, 2025
Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

Arthritis And Arthritic Pain

Muscle Pain

Treatment

Supportive Psychotherapy (SG)

Supportive Psychotherapy Without MORE Interventions

Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE)

Clinical Study ID

NCT06728579
24-171
  • Ages > 18
  • Female

Study Summary

The researchers are doing this study to compare two different types of group therapy and find out whether they are effective approaches for helping breast cancer survivors manage joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors (AI). This type of joint pain is called AI-associated arthralgia, or AIA, and it is common in people taking AIs. AIA and its associated symptoms can make some people decide to stop taking their medication. The study will look at the effects of two different types of group therapy on participants' cancer-related symptoms (such as pain, fatigue, and anxiety), their ability to continue taking AIs on a regular schedule, and their quality of life. We will measure participants' quality of life by having them fill out questionnaires.

Both groups will have 2-hour group therapy sessions once a week, over the course of 8 weeks. During the sessions, you will be in a group of 6-10 participants, who may be a mixture of patients from both MSK and University of California San Diego (UCSD).

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥18 years

  • English-proficient women with a history of stage I, II, or III breast cancer

  • Free of oncologic disease by clinical examination and history;

  • Receiving third-generation AI therapy (anastrozole, letrozole, or exemestane) for atleast 28 days prior to consent with plan to continue for at least another 12 months;

  • Worst joint pain rated at least 4 or greater on a 0-10 numeric rating scale in thepreceding week prior to consent;

  • Reporting at least 15 days with pain in the preceding 30 days prior to consent;

  • Experiencing joint pain for at least one month;

  • Pain attributed to AI therapy;

  • Willing to adhere to all study-related procedures, including randomization to one oftwo treatment arms: Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) or SupportiveGroup Psychotherapy (SG);

  • Able to attend video-call sessions in a quiet/private location.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Metastatic breast cancer (stage IV);

  • Completed chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy less than 4 weeks prior toenrollment;

  • Pain attributed to inflammatory arthritis (i.e. rheumatoid arthritis, gout,pseudogout);

  • Surgery or joint injection involving the affected joints within the last month orplanned within the next six months;

  • Active suicidality or psychosis as determined by the Mini-InternationalNeuropsychiatric Interview.

Study Design

Total Participants: 200
Treatment Group(s): 5
Primary Treatment: Supportive Psychotherapy (SG)
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
December 06, 2024
Estimated Completion Date:
December 31, 2028

Connect with a study center

  • University of California San Diego (Data collection and Data analysis)

    San Diego, California 92103
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Florida State University

    Tallahassee, Florida 32306
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge (All Protocol Activities)

    Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (All Protocol Activities)

    Middletown, New Jersey 07748
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (All Protocol Activities)

    Montvale, New Jersey 07645
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Suffolk- Commack (All Protocol Activities)

    Commack, New York 11725
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (All Protocol Activities)

    Harrison, New York 10604
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities)

    New York, New York 10065
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (All Protocol Activities)

    Uniondale, New York 11553
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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