Translational Research Center in Lung Cancer Disparities (TRACER) Project 2

The purpose of this study is to examine racial differences in smoking behaviors and stress responses between African American and white male smokers.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Smoking Behavior Fractures, Bone Fractures, Stress Health Behavior Smoking Behaviors Smoking Cessation Stress Reaction Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States

About this study

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality from lung cancer among adults in the US. Stress relief and smoking cessation is the best preventive strategy for reducing lung cancer risk and addressing racial disparities in outcomes. Despite this, racial differences are found among those that make quit attempts. Stress has been found to be related to smoking initiation, maintenance, and relapse. Yet, differences in stress responses have not been examined between African American and white smokers. Therefore, this study will examine racial differences in stress responses and smoking behaviors between African American and white male smokers

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

African American and white males
Between the ages of 18-75 years old
Smoke at least 5 to 10 cigarettes per day

Exclusion criteria

Smokers who have a serious cognitive disorder
Have a personal history of lung cancer
Personal history of usage of illicit drug and alcohol abuse
Enrollment in a smoking cessation treatment program during the past 6 months
Current use of a nicotine replacement therapy
Have any positive responses on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) screener

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Examining racial differences in acute stress responses

Time frame: Within 1 month following baseline

Examine racial differences in acute stress responses using a validated psychological stress challenge called the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)
Examining changes in daily cortisol patterns according to race

Time frame: Baseline, 4- and 8 weeks post Trier Social Stress Test laboratory visit

Examine racial differences in daily diurnal cortisol slopes to evaluate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis dysregulation and acute stress
Examine changes in stress responses and smoking behaviors as it relates to social determinant factors

Time frame: Baseline, 4- and 8-weeks post Trier Social Stress Test laboratory visit

Patients will be administered a survey using validated measures to examine socioeconomic, structural, and psychosocial stressors that impact daily stress and smoking behaviors

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Virginia Commonwealth University

Other

Collaborators

City of Hope Medical Center
Medical University of South Carolina
National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Registry information

Official study title

Biological Pathways in Stress Reactivity and Nicotine Addiction Among African American and White Smokers

Acronym: TRACER

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Aug 5, 2022
Registry last updated: Jun 3, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed