A new randomized clinical trial reports that a community-based smoking cessation program for people receiving cancer care can nearly double quit rates. The study was led by investigators from Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center within the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group. Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the work targets a persistent problem: tobacco use remains common after a cancer diagnosis, even though smoking worsens clinical outcomes.
The intervention paired sustained virtual behavioral support with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). It was designed to be feasible in non-academic oncology settings, where uptake of evidence-based tobacco treatment has historically lagged. The trial tested whether patients could engage with telehealth counseling and adhere to pharmacologic cessation supports while continuing their cancer treatments.
Participants who spoke English or Spanish received standard oncology care from their treating physicians. In addition, they were randomized to either enhanced usual care or a smoking cessation pathway that included referral to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Quitline or up to 11 telehealth sessions with trained tobacco cessation counselors plus free NRT in the form of nicotine lozenges and skin patches.
Use and dose mattered. The program showed a clear dose–response pattern: participants who completed more counseling sessions were more likely to quit by follow-up. This finding supports the idea that persistence of behavioral contact—not just access—improves cessation outcomes in medically complex patients.
The intervention was also evaluated for real-world impact, including patient satisfaction and economic considerations. Investigators reported that the approach was both cost-effective and acceptable, aligning with the practical constraints of community oncology practices.
The trial enrolled 306 patients from 37 community care sites across the United States, all participating in the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). Recruitment ran from August 2019 through December 2022, providing a multi-site assessment of implementation under routine care conditions.
Study results indicate the intervention group was nearly four times as likely to use safe, effective smoking cessation medications and nearly doubled quit rates at six months after treatment. These outcomes suggest a scalable model that can be delivered alongside cancer therapeutics rather than requiring patients to navigate separate, in-person cessation services.
“With virtual, sustained tobacco treatment delivered in parallel with cancer medications, we can reach patients wherever they receive care,” the study’s leaders emphasized. The work builds on prior success of similar telehealth cessation strategies tested in academic hospital settings, now extended to community oncology.
Subject of Research: People; cancer patients who smoke
Article Title: Virtual Sustained Tobacco Treatment for Patients With Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial (ECOG-ACRIN: EAQ171CD) Within the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP)
News Publication Date: 14-Jul-2026
Web References: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25-02267
References: Park ER et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology. DOI: 10.1200/JCO-25-02267
Image Credits: Not provided
Keywords: cancer; smoking cessation; telehealth; nicotine replacement therapy; NCI Quitline; oncology; community care; randomized trial; tobacco treatment
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