CTNI-21. MUSIC THERAPY IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED GLIOBLASTOMA AFTER CHEMORADIATION THERAPY (MELODY-GBM): A PILOT TRIAL IN PROGRESS

Abstract BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and feared high-grade glioma. Anxiety, depression, and fatigue are common, can be highly distressing, and may even impact treatment and survival. Options for symptomatic quality of life (QOL) treatment are limited. Music therapy (MT) is an emerging complementary symptomatic treatment. MT is the clinical use of music-based interventions within a therapeutic relationship with a certified music therapist. A certified music therapist conducts a personalized session, based on a person’s unique interests and preferences and can involve actively participating in music creation or singing/body percussion, passively listening to music, music assisted relaxation, or combinations of these. As a non-pharmacological intervention, MT has shown promise in alleviating cancer-related symptoms and treatment side effects, as well as improving QOL in people with cancer and neurologic conditions. METHODS In this first-of-its-kind study, in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine, we will investigate feasibility and efficacy of MT in patients undergoing standard of care treatment for GBM. Participants will be randomly assigned to either live virtual MT sessions or a personalized music listening regimen curated by a certified music therapist. Participants in both groups will receive 30-minute sessions, twice a week for 8 weeks. All participants will receive QOL measurement surveys throughout the study including anxiety, depression, and fatigue measures. Feasibility will be determined based on analysis of three primary measures (rate consented/enrolled, rate of survey return, adherence rate). A global statistical test will be used to assess the overall treatment effects, incorporating both feasibility and efficacy outcomes, based on three primary measures and two satisfaction measures. If found to be feasible in this pilot stage, then future studies will be powered to detect QOL differences between interventions. Enrollment is planned to begin August 2025.