Can Digital Health Tools Help Younger Cancer Survivors Better Predict Future Health Risks?

Newswise — A groundbreaking new study from the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology aims to test whether digital tools and chatbot technology can help young adult cancer survivors get the genetic counseling they need to better understand future health risks to themselves and family members.

Led by Alliance Study Chair Angela Bradbury, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center, the AYA ACCESS (Alliance A232301CD) study will enroll participants to study ways to address longstanding gaps in genetic services for adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 18 to 39, who often receive care in community settings with limited access to genetic specialists. Research shows that more than 10% of AYAs have familial predispositions to cancer in their DNA, yet many do not receive recommended genetic testing due to barriers such as geographic distance, lack of provider knowledge, and limited time for screening.

“For adolescent and young adult cancer survivors, genetic counseling is critical to understanding future risk they may have of developing chronic health conditions or additional cancers as a result of their initial illness or treatments,” said Dr. Bradbury. “This study is designed to meet AYAs where they are. By integrating digital tools like chatbots and remote genetic counseling, we hope to remove logistical and emotional barriers that prevent young patients and their family members from accessing potentially life-saving genetic information.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, about 85,000 AYAs are diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S. In addition to the unique biological and psychological needs of patients in this age group, many AYAs receive their care in settings either focused on young children or older adults, often causing this age group to feel left out of follow-up care.

“AYA cancer patients deserve equitable access to precision medicine,” said Alliance Study Co-Chair Tara Henderson, MD, PhD, Chair of Pediatrics at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. “This trial could redefine how genetic services are delivered in community settings and improve outcomes for the many thousands of young adult cancer survivors who can expect to live decades beyond their initial diagnosis and recovery.”

The trial will enroll 465 AYA cancer patients from community oncology practices across the U.S. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two arms:

Both arms will include genetic testing and post-test counseling, with services provided by the Penn Telegenetics Program. The study will evaluate whether the enhanced model increases uptake of genetic counseling and testing, while maintaining or improving patient outcomes such as knowledge, emotional well-being, and cost-effectiveness.

Key innovations to be studied include tailored chatbot technology designed to engage AYAs with personalized, accessible communication that improves follow-through. Participants will also receive digital education tools that allow AYAs to learn at their own pace, revisit content, and choose online quiz options.

The AYA ACCESS study is supported by the National Cancer Institute’s Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) and will be conducted in collaboration with ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, NRG Oncology, SWOG Cancer Research Network, and the Children’s Oncology Group.

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Reference: Alliance A232301CD: AYA Access study: An enhanced eHealth and chat-bot enabled delivery model for clinical genetic services in community AYA cancer patients. A full description of this clinical trial can be found at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07091617.

About the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is a national leader in advancing cancer research, uniting more than 25,000 cancer specialists at 115 main institutions and 1,400 affiliates across the U.S. and Canada. As part of the National Clinical Trials Network and a leading research base for the NCI Community Oncology Research Program, the Alliance conducts pioneering, practice-changing clinical trials that improve outcomes and reshape standards of care. Our work has led to multiple FDA approvals, influenced national guidelines, and produced hundreds of high-impact publications. More than 40,000 participants have taken part in Alliance studies, and our growing biospecimen repository now includes more than 1.5 million samples, collected over the past 30 years. Learn more at www.AllianceforClinicalTrialsinOncology.org.

About Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is the only independent, research-driven children’s hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children’s resources are devoted to serving their needs. Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.