Colorectal Cancer (Diagnosis)NCT07795801
Mind-Body Sexual Well-Being Program for Female GI Cancer Survivors
A study testing Mind-Body Group Intervention in people with Colorectal Cancer (Diagnosis) and Anal Cancer, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This record describes two distinct study phases: 1) A small open pilot trial including up to 10 participants, intended to generate descriptive feedback on regarding perceived benefits and areas for improvement for a group-based mind-body sexual well-being program for women treated for colorectal and anal cancers and… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Colorectal Cancer (Diagnosis), Anal Cancer, Sexual Dysfunction Female
- What is being tested?
- Mind-Body Group Intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2026to 1 Jun 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Female sex
- Able to speak and read English
- Aged 18 or older
- Receive any cancer care at any MGH-CC site (Boston, Waltham, Danvers, Newton Wellesley Hospital)
- Completed initial active treatment (i.e., surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) for colorectal or anal cancer approximately 3 months or more prior to enrollment (for curvivors/individuals treated for cancer with curative intent) or were diagnosed at least 3 months ago (for metavivors/individuals living with chronic cancer)
- Verbally endorse experiencing distressing changes to sexual health or intimate relationships, including changes that may be related to cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Access to an internet-connected device with video
Who cannot join
- Active psychiatric or cognitive comorbidity that prohibits the capacity to provide informed consent as determined by the study PI, a licensed psychologist, in collaboration with the patient's medical team
- Adults unable to complete study procedures in English
- Participated in an earlier phase of the study (DF-HCC protocols #22-586, #24-009, #24-281).
- In addition, individuals who participate in Phase 1 of this protocol (open pilot trial) will not be eligible to participate in Phase 2 (pilot RCT). Investigators will not enroll the following special populations: adults unable to consent, individuals who are not yet adults (i.e., < age 18), pregnant women, and prisoners.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
Lucy Finkelstein-Fox, PhD, 617-726-6300 ext. 111-133-0076, lfinkelsteinfox@mgh.harvard.edu
About this study
Official title: Refining a Mind-Body Sexual Well-Being Program for Female GI Cancer Survivors
This record describes two distinct study phases: 1) A small open pilot trial including up to 10 participants, intended to generate descriptive feedback on regarding perceived benefits and areas for improvement for a group-based mind-body sexual well-being program for women treated for colorectal and anal cancers and 2) A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) including up to 100 participants, intended to provide information about feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the group-based mind-body sexual well-being program compared to enhanced usual care control (EUCC).
Given the early-stage, open-pilot nature of the first study phase, which is not intended to produce interpretable results for feasibility, acceptability, or efficacy, this record will only report results from the second study phase (pilot RCT).
Read the detailed description
The primary objective of this protocol is to iteratively refine and pilot test a novel mind-body sexual well-being intervention that investigators have developed in previous research (DF-HCC protocols #22-586, #24-009, and #24-281). This protocol will include 2 study phases, including a small open pilot trial (Phase 1) and a subsequent larger randomized pilot trial (Phase 2). This protocol builds on previous work conducted by the investigators to develop a 6-week, group-based, mind-body sexual well-being program for female survivors of colorectal and anal cancer.
For Phase 1 (Open Pilot Trial), participants will complete electronic informed consent (including HIPAA authorization for access to relevant medical information in the EHR) prior to initiation of study procedures. Participants will then be invited to attend approximately 6 weeks of group-based sessions, lasting for approximately 90 minutes and including content related to mind-body medicine and complementary medical resources relevant to survivors' sexual well-being. To help investigators further refine the sexual well-being program for the next phase of the study, investigators will ask participants to complete brief (approximately 30 minute) survey batteries via REDCap at baseline and after the 6-session program, including assessments of intervention feasibility and acceptability as well as relevant psychosocial outcomes.
For Phase 2 (Randomized Pilot Trial), participants will complete electronic informed consent (including HIPAA authorization for access to relevant medical information in the EHR) prior to initiation of study procedures. Participants will then be randomized into groups (mind-body intervention groups vs. enhanced usual care control (EUCC)).
Participants randomized to EUCC will not receive any components of the mind-body group intervention. As part of this condition, participants will receive the current standard of care for patients at MGH and additionally receive a standard resource sheet to ensure that all participants receive a basic level of information specific to sexuality in cancer survivorship. As part of routine study assessments, investigators will measure EUCC participants' level of engagement with the Sexual Health Clinic and other supportive resources.
Participants in the mind-body group intervention arm will receive the same educational information about available sexual health resources as the EUCC participants to ensure equal familiarity with supportive resources within and outside of MGH. Participants randomized to receive the mind-body group intervention will also participate in a similar approximately 6-week group-based mind-body sexual well-being program as is described for Aim 1.
Just as for Aim 1, to inform ongoing intervention refinement, investigators will ask all participants to complete brief (approximately 30 minute) survey batteries via REDCap at baseline and after the 6-session program, including items related to feasibility, acceptability, and relevant psychosocial outcomes. Investigators will only randomize participants after receiving a completed baseline survey; participants who do not complete the baseline survey will not be counted towards the total number enrolled in the study. To capture symptom change over a longer period, investigators will also ask participants to complete survey batteries at 3-month post-intervention follow-up.
Approximately 20 participants randomized to receive the novel mind-body group study intervention will also be invited to complete a brief qualitative exit interview with a member of the study team, regarding perceived benefit of the intervention as well as and strengths and weaknesses of program content and delivery format to inform ongoing intervention refinement.
- Being tested
- Mind-Body Group Intervention, Enhanced Usual Care Control (EUCC)
- Keywords
- sexual well-being, women's health, colorectal cancer, anal cancer
- Medical subject headings
- Colorectal Neoplasms, Disease, Anus Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mind-Body Group InterventionBehavioural
Weekly virtual group meetings with the study interventionist(s) and up to 9 other female cancer survivors over an approximately 6 week period. The group program includes topics related to coping with physical health changes, managing social factors relevant to sexual well-being, and managing thoughts and feelings related to sexual well-being changes.
Enhanced Usual Care Control (EUCC)Behavioural
Participants randomized to EUCC will not receive any components of the mind-body group intervention. After randomization, the study CRC will offer participants a handout listing information about sexual health resources currently available to them that they may choose to access. Participants in the EUCC condition will also have the option of seeking care through the cancer center's local sexual health program, as is the current standard of care.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Mind-Body Sexual Well-Being Group Intervention | Experimental | Participants in the mind-body sexual well-being group intervention arm will participate in 6 weekly group sessions, delivered via videoconferencing, following enrollment. Group sessions will include content related to mind-body medicine (e.g., relaxation, mindfulness, self-compassion) applied to sexual well-being as well as educational information related to women's sexual well-being in cancer survivorship. Before and after completing the group program, participants will also complete brief self-assessment questionnaires.
Participants in the mind-body group intervention arm will also receive the same educational information about available sexual health resources as the EUCC participants, to ensure equal familiarity with high-quality educational and supportive resources related to women's sexual well-being and cancer. Receives: Behavioral: Mind-Body Group Intervention |
| Enhanced Usual Care Control (EUCC) | Active comparator | Participants randomized to EUCC will not receive any components of the mind-body group intervention. After randomization, the study CRC will offer participants a handout listing information about several high-quality sexual health resources currently available to them. Receives: Behavioral: Enhanced Usual Care Control (EUCC) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Feasibility of Intervention
To explore feasibility, investigators will use descriptive statistics (i.e., frequency and percentages) to evaluate the proportion of enrolled participants who completed at least 66%, or 4/6, of the scheduled intervention sessions (>/= 70% as our cutoff criteria for feasibility).
Measured: Approximately 6 weeks after the final 6-week group program begins
Acceptability of Intervention
To establish acceptability, we will examine the % of participants scoring at or above the scale midpoint on the CSQ-8 (>/= 70% as criteria for acceptability).
Measured: Approximately 6 weeks following group program start
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Aug 2026
- Study start1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Jun 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jun 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Colorectal Cancer (Diagnosis)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Massachusetts General HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- American Cancer Society, Inc.
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Lucy Finkelstein-Fox, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Investigators
- Lucy Finkelstein-Fox, PhD, Principal investigator, Massachusetts General Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07795801
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 26-077
- Other IDs
- CSDG-23-1152971-01-CSCT
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 8 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center encourages and supports the responsible and ethical sharing of data from clinical trials. De-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript may only be shared under the terms of a Data Use Agreement. Requests may be directed to: lfinkelsteinfox@mgh.harvard.edu. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Refining a Mind-Body Sexual Well-Being Program for Female GI Cancer Survivors
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07795801
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 26-077
- Keywords
- sexual well-being, women's health, colorectal cancer, anal cancer
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- American Cancer Society, Inc.
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jun 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This record describes two distinct study phases: 1) A small open pilot trial including up to 10 participants, intended to generate descriptive feedback on regarding perceived benefits and areas for improvement for a group-based mind-body sexual well-being program for women treated for colorectal and anal cancers and 2) A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) including up to 100 participants, intended to provide information about feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the group-based mind-body sexual well-being program compared to enhanced usual care control (EUCC).
Given the early-stage, open-pilot nature of the first study phase, which is not intended to produce interpretable results for feasibility, acceptability, or efficacy, this record will only report results from the second study phase (pilot RCT).
Detailed description
The primary objective of this protocol is to iteratively refine and pilot test a novel mind-body sexual well-being intervention that investigators have developed in previous research (DF-HCC protocols #22-586, #24-009, and #24-281). This protocol will include 2 study phases, including a small open pilot trial (Phase 1) and a subsequent larger randomized pilot trial (Phase 2). This protocol builds on previous work conducted by the investigators to develop a 6-week, group-based, mind-body sexual well-being program for female survivors of colorectal and anal cancer.
For Phase 1 (Open Pilot Trial), participants will complete electronic informed consent (including HIPAA authorization for access to relevant medical information in the EHR) prior to initiation of study procedures. Participants will then be invited to attend approximately 6 weeks of group-based sessions, lasting for approximately 90 minutes and including content related to mind-body medicine and complementary medical resources relevant to survivors' sexual well-being. To help investigators further refine the sexual well-being program for the next phase of the study, investigators will ask participants to complete brief (approximately 30 minute) survey batteries via REDCap at baseline and after the 6-session program, including assessments of intervention feasibility and acceptability as well as relevant psychosocial outcomes.
For Phase 2 (Randomized Pilot Trial), participants will complete electronic informed consent (including HIPAA authorization for access to relevant medical information in the EHR) prior to initiation of study procedures. Participants will then be randomized into groups (mind-body intervention groups vs. enhanced usual care control (EUCC)).
Participants randomized to EUCC will not receive any components of the mind-body group intervention. As part of this condition, participants will receive the current standard of care for patients at MGH and additionally receive a standard resource sheet to ensure that all participants receive a basic level of information specific to sexuality in cancer survivorship. As part of routine study assessments, investigators will measure EUCC participants' level of engagement with the Sexual Health Clinic and other supportive resources.
Participants in the mind-body group intervention arm will receive the same educational information about available sexual health resources as the EUCC participants to ensure equal familiarity with supportive resources within and outside of MGH. Participants randomized to receive the mind-body group intervention will also participate in a similar approximately 6-week group-based mind-body sexual well-being program as is described for Aim 1.
Just as for Aim 1, to inform ongoing intervention refinement, investigators will ask all participants to complete brief (approximately 30 minute) survey batteries via REDCap at baseline and after the 6-session program, including items related to feasibility, acceptability, and relevant psychosocial outcomes. Investigators will only randomize participants after receiving a completed baseline survey; participants who do not complete the baseline survey will not be counted towards the total number enrolled in the study. To capture symptom change over a longer period, investigators will also ask participants to complete survey batteries at 3-month post-intervention follow-up.
Approximately 20 participants randomized to receive the novel mind-body group study intervention will also be invited to complete a brief qualitative exit interview with a member of the study team, regarding perceived benefit of the intervention as well as and strengths and weaknesses of program content and delivery format to inform ongoing intervention refinement.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Mind-Body Sexual Well-Being Group Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Mind-Body Group InterventionParticipants in the mind-body sexual well-being group intervention arm will participate in 6 weekly group sessions, delivered via videoconferencing, following enrollment. Group sessions will include content related to mind-body medicine (e.g., relaxation, mindfulness, self-compassion) applied to sexual well-being as well as educational information related to women's sexual well-being in cancer survivorship. Before and after completing the group program, participants will also complete brief self-assessment questionnaires. Participants in the mind-body group intervention arm will also receive the same educational information about available sexual health resources as the EUCC participants, to ensure equal familiarity with high-quality educational and supportive resources related to women's sexual well-being and cancer. |
| Enhanced Usual Care Control (EUCC) | Active comparator | Behavioral: Enhanced Usual Care Control (EUCC)Participants randomized to EUCC will not receive any components of the mind-body group intervention. After randomization, the study CRC will offer participants a handout listing information about several high-quality sexual health resources currently available to them. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Female sex
- Able to speak and read English
- Aged 18 or older
- Receive any cancer care at any MGH-CC site (Boston, Waltham, Danvers, Newton Wellesley Hospital)
- Completed initial active treatment (i.e., surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) for colorectal or anal cancer approximately 3 months or more prior to enrollment (for curvivors/individuals treated for cancer with curative intent) or were diagnosed at least 3 months ago (for metavivors/individuals living with chronic cancer)
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Active psychiatric or cognitive comorbidity that prohibits the capacity to provide informed consent as determined by the study PI, a licensed psychologist, in collaboration with the patient's medical team
- Adults unable to complete study procedures in English
- Participated in an earlier phase of the study (DF-HCC protocols #22-586, #24-009, #24-281).
- In addition, individuals who participate in Phase 1 of this protocol (open pilot trial) will not be eligible to participate in Phase 2 (pilot RCT). Investigators will not enroll the following special populations: adults unable to consent, individuals who are not yet adults (i.e., < age 18), pregnant women, and prisoners.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Mind-Body Group InterventionWeekly virtual group meetings with the study interventionist(s) and up to 9 other female cancer survivors over an approximately 6 week period. The group program includes topics related to coping with physical health changes, managing social factors relevant to sexual well-being, and managing thoughts and feelings related to sexual well-being changes. | Behavioural | Mind-Body Sexual Well-Being Group Intervention |
| Enhanced Usual Care Control (EUCC)Participants randomized to EUCC will not receive any components of the mind-body group intervention. After randomization, the study CRC will offer participants a handout listing information about sexual health resources currently available to them that they may choose to access. Participants in the EUCC condition will also have the option of seeking care through the cancer center's local sexual health program, as is the current standard of care. | Behavioural | Enhanced Usual Care Control (EUCC) |
Primary outcome
Feasibility of Intervention
Time frame: Approximately 6 weeks after the final 6-week group program begins
To explore feasibility, investigators will use descriptive statistics (i.e., frequency and percentages) to evaluate the proportion of enrolled participants who completed at least 66%, or 4/6, of the scheduled intervention sessions (>/= 70% as our cutoff criteria for feasibility).
Acceptability of Intervention
Time frame: Approximately 6 weeks following group program start
To establish acceptability, we will examine the % of participants scoring at or above the scale midpoint on the CSQ-8 (>/= 70% as criteria for acceptability).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center encourages and supports the responsible and ethical sharing of data from clinical trials. De-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript may only be shared under the terms of a Data Use Agreement. Requests may be directed to: lfinkelsteinfox@mgh.harvard.edu. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Lucy Finkelstein-Fox, PhD principal investigator
Massachusetts General Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mind-Body Group Intervention in people with Colorectal Cancer (Diagnosis) and Anal Cancer, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Lucy Finkelstein-Fox, PhD (617-724-6300 ext. 111-133-0076, lfinkelsteinfox@mgh.harvard.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Feasibility of Intervention (time frame: Approximately 6 weeks after the final 6-week group program begins). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Sep 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.