An observational study in Cachexia; Cancer, Advanced Cancer and Quality of Life, sponsored by University of Edinburgh. Recruiting at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-07.
Sponsored by University of Edinburgh · Observational
People with incurable cancer often have complex individual needs, however there are several common themes encountered when considering this group.
As cancer progresses there are series of interactions between the tumour and the patient, producing both local and systemic effects. This altered state of illness can have multiple ill effects including weight loss, fatigue, increased symptom burden and reduction in physical function which all contribute to a reduced quality of life.
These areas are often studied in isolation, giving an incomplete picture. A detailed, holistic characterisation of this group of people does not exist.
A robust characterisation of people with incurable cancer will allow identification and prioritisation of future research and has the potential to inform new therapeutics and provide justification for treatments.
This study aims to collect information about symptoms and quality of life, weight loss and body composition, physical activity and the body's immune response to cancer.
Participants with incurable cancer will be recruited to the study from oncology and palliative medicine services in the UK. Participants will answer questionnaires about quality of life and symptoms, have bloods taken for inflammatory marker and cytokine analysis and have their body composition measured by a variety of methods.
331 studies on the registry are indexed under Cachexia; 75 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 600 is above the median of 150 across 88 observational studies indexed under Cachexia.
Browse Cachexia studies →University of Edinburgh is the lead sponsor of 403 studies on the registry; 64 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
People living with incurable cancer recruited from oncology and palliative care services in the UK
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Metastases
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Association between inflammatory cytokines and clinical parameters in incurable cancer
Correlation of serum levels of inflammatory cytokines with clinical parameters including skeletal muscle mass, symptom based scores and physical activity as measured by actigraphy.
Time frame: 2 years
Plan to share: Yes
Started Jul 2020 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Aug 2029, 108 months after the start.
Of 38 observational studies under Cachexia, half reached primary completion within 38 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 19 and three quarters within 48. This study's planned 108 months is above that.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
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Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.