July 15 2025
NRG Oncology recently activated NRG-CC015, a study to examine mindfulness training to improve mental health and well-being in younger breast cancer survivors, also known as “HEAL-ABC.” This trial is currently enrolling young breast cancer survivors who have elevated symptoms associated with depression.
The HEAL-ABC study will compare different approaches to delivering mindfulness training in breast cancer survivors (who were between the ages of 18-51 at the time of their breast cancer diagnosis) with depressive symptoms and help the study team find out which approach to delivering mindfulness training will work better to improve mental health and well-being in younger breast cancer survivors.
“Mindfulness meditation programs provided in person have been shown to be helpful for younger breast cancer survivors. Our study will compare different digital approaches for mindfulness training to see which is the most effective,” stated Julienne Bower, PhD, of the UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology and the Principal Investigator of NRG-CC015.
The study will have participants joino ne of three mindfulness training programs for six weeks and complete assessments before and up to six months after training. The mindfulness programs will be delivered in
one of three ways: 1) online via Zoom in a group with other study participants;2) using a specially-designed app that includes the same training material and activities as the Zoom group; or 3) using special mindfulness meditations.
Patricia Ganz, MD, of UCLA Fielding School of Public Health; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and NRG-CC015 protocol co-chair stated, “The usual approach for participants who are not in a study is to get advice about the management of their depressive symptoms from their clinicians. We want to find out if digital mindfulness meditation-based intervention programs can improve mental health and well-being among younger breast cancer survivors with elevated symptoms that are associated with depression such as depressed mood, fatigue, and insomnia.”
There will be about 402 people taking part in this study. Across the three years of study enrollment, a total of about 120-140 people will be included in each of the three mindfulness meditation groups and their individual participation will last about 9 months.
More Study Information Learn more about this trial at http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov.
Protocol documents and materials are located on the CTSU website.
Patient study materials are coming soon and will be posted on the NRG Oncology website.