Home › Cancer (all types) › NCT07845422
A Study of Music Therapy for Anxiety in People With Cancer
Virtual AI-Assisted Music Therapy for Anxiety Symptoms in People With Advanced Cancer (VIRTUOSO)
Who can join
Ages 18 and older · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Criteria: * Patients must have a pathologically confirmed advanced cancer diagnosis: stage III or IV lung cancer; any stage pancreatic cancer, unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, unresectable liver cancer, unresectable ampullary or peri-ampullary cancer, or other stage IV gastrointestinal cancer; stage III or IV ovarian or fallopian tube cancers or other stage IV gynecologic cancer; stage IV breast cancer; stage III testicular cancer or any stage IV genitourinary cancer; stage IV sarcoma; stage IV melanoma; stage IV endocrine cancer; lymphoma, myeloma, or leukemia * Currently receiving oncological treatment * Age ≥ 18; English or Spanish-speaking * Ambulatory as indicated by a Karnofsky performance score of 60 or higher * Score of 8 or higher on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety subscale * Anxiety symptoms lasting for at least 1 month * Greater than 6-month expected survival as judged by the treating oncologist * No diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse * Score of 10 or higher on Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration indicative of dementia * No prior receipt of music therapy within the past six months * Not currently receiving any form of psychotherapy * Concomitant Medications * No initiation or change in scheduled anxiety medications (e.g., anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants) within the past 4 weeks * Initiation or change in PRN anxiety medications are allowed within the past 4 weeks * No plan to initiate or change scheduled anxiety medications during the study * Initiation or change in PRN anxiety medications are allowed during the study * Access to an internet-connected device * Able to provide informed consent * Willing to adhere to study procedures, including randomization, session attendance, and completion of assessments
About the study
The researchers are doing this study to compare two different music-based treatment approaches and see if one may work better to reduce anxiety. The researchers will also study whether these music-based treatment approaches help people feel socially connected and change how they cope with anxiety, and whether these changes are linked to lower anxiety levels. Both approaches use music-based activities to treat anxiety. One of the approaches uses an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered song creation platform to write songs with a music therapist. The other approach involves music listening exercises and music-based discussions with research staff, during which you will learn about music culture and history.
What is being tested
- AI-Assisted Collaborative Songwriting (ARTIST) Intervention (other)
- Time and attention matched-music listening (TAME) (other)
Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · Participants: 240 · Started: Sep 4, 2026
Contact the study team
- Kevin Liou, MD · Phone: 646-608-8558
- Jun Mao, MD, MSCE · Phone: 646-608-8552
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07845422
Locations in the U.S.
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.