Stress & LFS

Goal/Objective:

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) is associated with considerable mortality and morbidity with high probabilities of developing cancer at an early age. Stress in families with LFS is an almost definite occurrence, with personal and family member cancer anticipation, screening fatigue, anxiety about false negative and false positive findings, the caregiving for affected family members, and the high morbidity related to cancer itself. A few studies suggest links between stress and tumor development, although evidence is conflicting. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of using digital tools to detect and track stress in families with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. This study is intended to lay the foundational work for a future, full scale study testing the ability of digital devices to detect and track stress that might be able to forecast cancer progression at much earlier periods than currently available.

Description of the study:

Patients with a diagnosis of LFS and their affected and unaffected family members will be enrolled over a 6-month period into a 6-month follow-up study. Patients will be recruited from cancer clinics at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and The Hospital for Sick Children. This study will utilize wearable technologies including semi-continuous passive and active biometric measurements carried out using individuals’ own smartphones equipped with applications to track, present and transmit key data, alongside an ura smart ring, and the Empatica EmbracePlus smartwatch.

Size and Timing:
This study is expected to launch in May/June 2021 and recruit 25 families

Funder:
4YouandMe & TBD

Clinical Partner(s):
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and The Hospital for Sick Children

Coalition and Collaboration Partners:
Vector Institute, Empatica