2026 Updated Overview of the AIMS Cancer Outcomes Study (ACOS) and AIMS Medical Outcomes Study (AMOS)

Integrative oncology use is widespread among cancer patients, with up to 80% seeking complementary therapies alongside conventional medical care. However, systematic outcomes research on naturopathic oncology, particularly when delivered by board-certified Fellows of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO) or equivalent experts, remains limited. Similarly, little is known about the broader health-related quality of life impacts of integrative, team-based care for patients with cancer, chronic illness, or psychiatric conditions. To address these significant evidence gaps, the AIMS Institute initiated two prospective outcomes studies: ACOS and AMOS.

ACOS (NCT04495790) is a prospective consecutive case series evaluating patients with early- and advanced-stage cancers receiving Advanced Integrative Oncology (AIO) care at AIMS Institute. Primary endpoints include disease-free survival (DFS) in early-stage patients and three-year overall survival (OS) in advanced-stage patients, with secondary measures addressing treatment tolerance and quality-of-life indices. AMOS (NCT04512755) is an uncontrolled, prospective outcomes study assessing health-related quality of life in patients with cancer, chronic or serious illness, and mental health disorders treated with coordinated integrative and specialty care. Both studies utilize systematic chart reviews and prospective data collection to evaluate outcomes in real-world clinical settings, ensuring broad applicability and generalizable findings.

As ongoing observational outcomes studies, results are not yet fully reported. ACOS will provide longitudinal survival data in adult and pediatric oncology patients receiving AIO interventions, including nutritional, botanical, and integrative therapies alongside conventional treatment. AMOS will report on quality-of-life and functional outcomes among a broader patient population receiving advanced integrative medical services, such as naturopathic oncology, psychiatry, palliative care, IV therapies, and drug-assisted psychotherapy. Additional analyses will evaluate treatment adherence, patient-reported symptom burden, functional recovery, and healthcare utilization patterns, offering insight into both survival benefits and supportive outcomes. Together, these findings aim to establish benchmarks for integrative oncology care delivery and highlight real-world effectiveness across diverse patient populations.

The ACOS and AMOS trials represent pioneering efforts to systematically evaluate Advanced Integrative Oncology and multidisciplinary integrative medical care in real-world practice. Their findings are expected to inform evidence-based recommendations, improve coordinated care models, and expand the understanding of integrative medicine's role in oncology and complex chronic illness. Importantly, results may support further development of integrative oncology residencies (e.g. Dr. Standish–led FABNO training), and help align such practice with evolving SIO/ASCO guidelines, fostering greater acceptance in mainstream oncology.