Humidified Forest Oils for Immune System Recovery in Stage I-III Breast or Prostate Cancer

NCT ID: NCT05012813

Last Updated: 2025-09-15

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-07-19
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-31

Brief Summary

This clinical trial studies the feasibility of simulating forest therapy using humidified wood or fragrant oils, in improving immune cells, like natural killer cells, number and activity, and their downstream proteins, perforin and granulysin in patients with stage I-III breast or prostate cancer who completed chemo- and/or radiation therapy. The knowledge gained from this study may help cancer patients who have compromised immune systems and who also cannot participate in outdoor activities like exercise or forest walks.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Determine the feasibility of using humidified phytoncides to simulate the forest greenspace immersion (simulated forest immersion therapy [SFIT]) in cancer patients with solid tumor who have completed surgery, chemo- and radiation therapy as an alternate method of access to the natural forest greenspace.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Determine the feasibility of collecting and analyzing immune system measures while deploying the simulated forest immersion therapy with forest oils (SFIT), as well as measuring natural killer (NK) cell number and activity, and perforin and granulysin.

OUTLINE:

Patients participate in SFIT, using humidified wood and fragrance oils, over 1 hour on day 1, day 3 or 4 and on day 7. Patients also undergo blood sample collection at baseline and on days 3 or 4 and 7 and participate in interviews at baseline and post-treatment.

Conditions

Breast Carcinoma; Prostate Carcinoma

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Supportive care (SFIT, biospecimen, interview)

Patients participate in SFIT, using humidified wood and fragrance oils, over 1 hour. on day 1, day 3 or 4 and on day 7. Patients also undergo blood sample collection at baseline and on days 3 or 4 and 7 and participate in interviews at baseline and post-treatment.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Aromatherapy with Essential Oils

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participate in SFIT this is one intervention with aroma therapy with essential Forest oils

Interventions

Aromatherapy with Essential Oils

Participate in SFIT this is one intervention with aroma therapy with essential Forest oils

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Therapeutic Interventions; Therapeutic Method; Therapeutic Procedure; Therapeutic Technique; Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age >= 18 years. Both men and women and members of all races and ethnic groups will be included
• Participants must have histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer or prostate cancer (hormone therapy excepted) who are in stage I-V with or without evidence of metastasis using the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) Simplified Disease Classification
• Participants must be within 12 months of their first diagnosis of breast or prostate cancer
• Criteria for solid tumors: Participants must have measurable disease, per doctor of medicine (MD) and data in medical record
• Participants must have no history of autoimmune disease
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria

• If they have asthma. Rationale: forest oils may be a possible trigger for asthma
• If they have a known allergy to citrus peel or pine forests. Rationale: forest oils may cause contact dermatitis and coughing
• If they are unable to detect common odors from commercial fragrances. Rationale, forest oils are humidified as an aroma to be inhaled in the simulate the forest greenspace immersion (SFIT)
• First diagnosis of breast or prostate cancer is longer than 12 months ago. Rationale, NK cell number recovery may be complete by this time after first treatment
• Febrile illness/infection within previous two weeks. Rationale, immune biomarkers will reflect previous febrile illness
• Current tobacco or tobacco use within 1 hour of start of SFIT. Rationale: forest oils may cause contact dermatitis and coughing
• Prior autoimmune disease, are on immune-modulating therapies (endocrine therapy allowed). Rationale, because of their poor prognosis rather than being in early stages of cancer
• Had surgery or invasive procedure in the past two months. Rationale, because of their poor prognosis rather than being in early stages of cancer
• Inability to complete study requisites

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Oregon Health and Science University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Amy M. Ross Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Amy M Ross, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Locations

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Portland, Oregon, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

NCI-2021-08489

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

STUDY00023183

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

STUDY00023183

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id