In a groundbreaking advancement published in the June 2025 issue of the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (JNCCN), a novel telehealth-driven supportive care program has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in enhancing the quality of life for older adults undergoing cancer treatment. The study highlights the potential of remote geriatric assessment-guided interventions to bridge substantial geographic and resource-related disparities in oncology care, particularly in under-resourced regions worldwide. This research marks a significant step forward in leveraging telemedicine not merely as a tool for consultation but as a comprehensive, supportive care platform tailored to meet the complex needs of elderly cancer patients.
The program, known as the Geriatric Assessment-Guided Intervention-Supportive Care (GAIN-S), integrates a multidisciplinary approach encompassing personalized fitness regimens, nutritional counseling, psychiatric support, and psychosocial assistance. Delivered entirely via telehealth modalities, GAIN-S offers an innovative model that dismantles traditional barriers, such as travel burden and limited local expertise, often faced by elderly patients scattered across remote or underserved territories. This carefully orchestrated regimen was scrutinized in a rigorously designed randomized clinical trial involving 77 participants aged 65 years and older, all receiving treatment for metastatic solid tumors in Brazil from mid-2022 to mid-2023.
The trial’s choice of Brazil as a testing ground was both strategic and poignant. With healthcare infrastructure concentrated predominantly in major urban centers, a vast swath of the population endures limited access to specialized oncology and geriatric care. The study’s reliance on urban-based care providers, who delivered interventions remotely, allowed for a direct examination of telehealth’s capacity to equalize access and elevate care standards across socioeconomically and geographically disparate regions. Results at the three-month evaluation point revealed significant improvements across vital outcome measures, including enhanced physical function, mood stabilization, deeper illness comprehension, and overall quality of life.
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One of the critical technical pillars underpinning this success was the utilization of encrypted, secure messaging platforms—in this case, WhatsApp—to schedule appointments and obtain informed consent. By employing end-to-end encryption and ephemeral messaging features, the team ensured patient confidentiality and data security, addressing a pervasive concern in digital health interventions. This operational detail underscores the essential convergence of technological innovation with clinical expertise, enabling scalable and privacy-conscious telehealth solutions.
Senior author Dr. William Dale, MD, PhD of City of Hope, emphasized the transformative potential of such telehealth programs, stating that bringing expert care directly into patients’ homes circumvents the logistic and financial barriers that so often compromise treatment adherence and outcomes. This decentralized method not only enhances equity but also optimizes the allocation of specialized resources, ensuring that providers’ expertise can reach far-flung populations without necessitating physical relocation of either party. The implications extend beyond cancer care to broader chronic disease management paradigms.
Lead author Dr. Cristiane Decat Bergerot, PhD, of Oncoclinicas&Co in Sao Paulo, reinforced the notion that integrating supportive care early in the cancer care trajectory is essential. Early intervention via remote platforms fosters improved communication channels between patients, families, and healthcare teams, setting the stage for more effective symptom management, emotional support, and personalized treatment planning. Such timely engagement is especially critical in geriatric oncology, where comorbidities and frailty complicate clinical decision-making.
Commenting on the study, independent expert Dr. Martine Extermann, MD, PhD, from Moffitt Cancer Center, highlighted the broader clinical significance of GAIN-S within the framework of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and Management (CGAM). CGAM, a well-established evidence-based standard compensating for the heterogeneity of aging cancer patients, traditionally remained confined to large academic institutions due to resource demands. This trial compellingly demonstrates that telehealth modalities can democratize CGAM’s benefits, facilitating its adoption in community settings and emerging economies alike, thereby expanding its global reach.
Furthermore, the randomized controlled design fortifies the evidence base underpinning telehealth interventions in geriatric oncology, outperforming prior observational or pilot investigations. The methodological rigor and clear outcome improvements make a compelling case for policy makers and healthcare systems to recalibrate resource allocation strategies, incorporating telehealth-supported supportive care as an integral component of oncologic treatment frameworks targeting older adults.
This study also shines a spotlight on the technological and infrastructural prerequisites necessary for widespread telehealth implementation. Reliable internet connectivity, user-friendly digital platforms, and secure communication channels must coalesce seamlessly with clinical workflows to realize the full potential of remote care. The deployment in Brazil, a middle-income country with diverse connectivity landscapes, offers real-world insights into overcoming such logistical challenges and tailoring solutions to local contexts.
In addition to clinical and technical factors, the social dimensions of telehealth interventions receive due consideration. The ease with which older patients adapted to remote interactions, the psychological relief afforded by reduced travel requirements, and the enhanced caregiver involvement collectively underscore telehealth’s holistic benefits. Importantly, these factors contribute to improved adherence, satisfaction, and ultimately, better health trajectories.
The implications of this research ripple beyond national boundaries. As the global population ages and cancer incidence rises disproportionately among older adults, scalable, equitable care strategies are urgently required. The GAIN-S program exemplifies such innovation, representing a beacon for international oncology communities eager to adopt sustainable, patient-centered telehealth frameworks that reconcile clinical excellence with accessibility.
To access the full details of the GAIN-S randomized clinical trial, alongside an expert commentary by Dr. Extermann, readers are encouraged to consult the June 2025 issue of JNCCN via JNCCN.org. This research not only advances scientific understanding but also sets a precedent for harnessing technology to meet the nuanced challenges of geriatric cancer care in a digitally connected world.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Telehealth Geriatric Assessment and Supportive Care Intervention (GAIN-S) Program: A Randomized Clinical Trial
News Publication Date: 11-Jun-2025
Web References:
JNCCN
Telehealth GAIN-S Study
The Last Word Commentary
Image Credits: NCCN
Keywords: Cancer, Carcinoma, Cancer research, Cancer treatments, Oncology, Aging populations, Gerontology, Older adults, Economic geography, Underdeveloped areas, Telecommunications
Tags: bridging geographic barriers in oncologyenhancing quality of life in cancer patientsGAIN-S program for cancer treatmentgeriatric assessment-guided interventionsinnovative cancer care solutionsmultidisciplinary approach in cancer supportrandomized clinical trials in oncologyremote patient monitoring for cancer careresource-related disparities in healthcaresupportive care for elderly cancer patientstelehealth in cancer caretelemedicine for older adults
