Trial results for a study investigating the effects of bright light on co-occurring cancer-related symptoms in breast cancer survivors were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-06-10. The study, titled "Effects of Bright Light on Co-occurring Cancer-related Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors," enrolled 30 participants.
Background
Breast cancer survivors often experience a range of co-occurring symptoms that can impact their quality of life. This study aimed to explore the potential of therapeutic bright light, tailored to individual circadian typology, to address these symptoms. The investigation sought to estimate the effects of bright light on circadian rhythms, common cancer-associated symptoms, and overall quality of life. Examining a selected phase marker, core body temperature, in relation to associated clinical features like symptoms, was intended as a starting point for future research into the biological mechanisms underlying these symptoms.
Trial design
This completed study, which did not specify a traditional phase (NA), enrolled a total of 30 participants diagnosed with Breast Cancer. The trial's brief summary indicated an interest in the effects of bright light on circadian rhythms, four common cancer-associated symptoms, and quality of life. Participants were assigned to one of two arms: "Arm 1: Bright Blue-green Light" or "Arm 2: Dim Red Light," to assess the intervention's impact.
Key results
The study reported on attrition, adherence, and the effects of bright light on sleep disturbance:
- Study Attrition and Adherence:
- In the Bright Blue-green Light arm, 1 participant experienced attrition, and 14 participants demonstrated adherence.
- In the Dim Red Light arm, 1 participant experienced attrition, and 14 participants demonstrated adherence.
- Effects of Bright Light on Sleep Disturbance as Measured by the PROMIS-Sleep Disturbance:
- For the Bright Blue-green Light arm, the mean T-score was 56 (Standard Deviation 6).
- For the Dim Red Light arm, the mean T-score was 57.3 (Standard Deviation 7.5).
- At a later measurement, the Bright Blue-green Light arm had a mean T-score of 49.6 (Standard Deviation 5.3).
- The Dim Red Light arm had a mean T-score of 50.4 (Standard Deviation 6).
- Effects of Bright Light on Sleep Disturbance as Measured by the PSQI:
- For the Bright Blue-green Light arm, the mean score on a scale was 9.3 (Standard Deviation 3.2).
- For the Dim Red Light arm, the mean score on a scale was 9.6 (Standard Deviation 3.2).
- At a later measurement, the Bright Blue-green Light arm had a mean score on a scale of 7.8 (Standard Deviation 2.4).
- The Dim Red Light arm had a mean score on a scale of 6.0 (Standard Deviation 3.1).
What this means
This exploratory study provides initial data on the effects of bright light therapy on sleep disturbance in breast cancer survivors. The reported mean scores for sleep disturbance, as measured by PROMIS-Sleep Disturbance and PSQI, offer insight into participant experiences in both the bright blue-green light and dim red light arms. While the trial provides specific measurements, the posted results do not include statistical analyses to determine the significance of any observed differences between the groups. Further research would be needed to understand the clinical implications of these findings for managing cancer-related symptoms.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public registry of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03304587, titled "Effects of Bright Light on Co-occurring Cancer-related Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors," were posted on 2025-06-10 on clinicaltrials.gov.