Exercise Therapy for Cancer and COVID-19 Recovery

Recruiting at 9 trial locations

Overseen By Jessica Scott, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1

Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Home oxygen, Other cancer, Metastatic, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 30 weeks

3 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a 30-week aerobic exercise therapy program in cancer patients recovering from COVID-19. The study will look at whether the aerobic exercise therapy causes few or mild side effects in participants. Aerobic exercise is physical activity that uses the large muscle groups (muscles in your legs, buttocks, back, and chest) and can be performed for several minutes at a time. The aerobic exercise therapy being used in this study will be a walking program that will be adjusted so it matches participant fitness levels (how much exercise you can handle).

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it does allow for current endocrine therapy and maintenance therapy, so you may be able to continue those.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Aerobic Exercise Therapy for cancer and COVID-19 recovery?

Research shows that aerobic exercise can help cancer patients by reducing fatigue, improving physical function, and enhancing quality of life. It is effective in helping patients recover from the physical limitations caused by cancer and its treatments. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is aerobic exercise therapy different from other treatments for cancer and COVID-19 recovery?

Aerobic exercise therapy is unique because it helps alleviate fatigue and improve quality of life by enhancing physical function and cardiorespiratory fitness, which are often compromised by cancer and its treatments. Unlike many standard treatments, it is non-invasive and can be safely integrated during and after cancer therapy to support rehabilitation and recovery. ^{1 2 4 5 6}

Research Team

Jessica Scott, PhD

Principal Investigator

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 18 who have had cancer, are recovering from COVID-19, and do less than 90 minutes of exercise a week. They must have space for a treadmill at home and be cleared to exercise. Women able to have children must not be pregnant or planning pregnancy during the study.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 18 years old or older.

I am a woman under 50, can become pregnant, and have a recent negative pregnancy test.

I am not pregnant nor planning to become pregnant during the study.

Exclusion Criteria

You are currently receiving treatment for any other type of invasive cancer.

Enrollment onto any other interventional investigational study

Any other condition or intercurrent illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, makes the subject a poor candidate for study participation

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a 30-week aerobic exercise therapy program tailored to their fitness levels

30 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the exercise therapy program

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Aerobic Exercise Therapy

Trial Overview The trial tests a 30-week walking program tailored to fitness levels in cancer patients recovering from COVID-19. It aims to see if this aerobic exercise therapy is safe and causes few or mild side effects.

Participant Groups

Group I: Participants who were hospitalized for COVID-19 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be post-cancer treatment patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,998

Recruited

602,000+

Findings from Research

Aerobic exercise is an effective additive treatment for cancer patients, helping to alleviate physical limitations and improve quality of life during and after oncological treatment.

Research indicates that aerobic exercise is feasible even for patients with advanced cancer, enabling them to recover physical function and return to a more active lifestyle.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Aerobic endurance training for cancer patients]. Crevenna, R., Zielinski, C., Keilani, MY., et al.[2019]

A review by Cochrane researchers indicates that aerobic exercise is effective in reducing fatigue commonly experienced by cancer patients and those undergoing treatment.

This finding suggests that incorporating aerobic exercise into cancer care may improve the quality of life for patients dealing with fatigue.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise can help to alleviate the fatigue associated with cancer. [2019]

A 6-week aerobic exercise program significantly improved physical performance in five cancer patients, increasing their maximum walking speed and distance, while also reducing fatigue levels.

The exercise regimen, which involved daily treadmill walking at a specific intensity, allowed all participants to resume normal daily activities without substantial limitations, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic intervention for cancer-related fatigue.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic exercise as therapy for cancer fatigue. Dimeo, F., Rumberger, BG., Keul, J.[2022]

A 6-week aerobic exercise program significantly reduced cancer-related fatigue in patients with solid tumors after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, as indicated by a substantial decrease in the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) score.

Participants in the aerobic exercise group also showed marked improvements in physical performance and quality of life, measured by the 6-minute walk test and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) score.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Cancer-related Fatigue. Patel, JG., Bhise, AR.[2022]

A systematic review of 33 trials involving 3257 patients found that aerobic exercise during chemotherapy is safe and can improve or maintain fitness levels, with moderate intensity exercise (50-80% maximum heart rate) being particularly effective.

Exercise was associated with improved quality of life and physical functioning, as well as a quicker return to work, although it did not significantly affect chemotherapy completion rates or survival outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review of the safety and efficacy of aerobic exercise during cytotoxic chemotherapy treatment. Cave, J., Paschalis, A., Huang, CY., et al.[2021]

Exercise therapy significantly improves cardiorespiratory fitness in cancer patients and helps reduce the cardiotoxic effects of cancer treatments, making it a crucial part of cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Starting exercise early after a cancer diagnosis and continuing throughout survivorship is generally safe and beneficial for heart health in cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise Training for Cancer Survivors. Tong, CKW., Lau, B., Davis, MK.[2021]

References

1. Austria pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Aerobic endurance training for cancer patients]. [2019]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise can help to alleviate the fatigue associated with cancer. [2019]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic exercise as therapy for cancer fatigue. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Cancer-related Fatigue. [2022]

5. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review of the safety and efficacy of aerobic exercise during cytotoxic chemotherapy treatment. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise Training for Cancer Survivors. [2021]