Exercise Program for Brain Tumor

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Disqualifiers: Cognitive difficulties, poorly controlled diabetes, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 24

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a partnered exercise program called Exercise Together for individuals with primary brain tumors and their caregivers. The goal is to determine if exercising together can improve both mental and physical health for patients and caregivers, who often face high stress and physical challenges. The program includes virtual resistance training sessions designed to enhance daily functioning and strengthen relationships. Individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of a primary brain tumor, who are at least six weeks post-treatment, and live with a partner who can serve as their exercise buddy, might be a good fit. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to enhance well-being and strengthen relationships through a supportive exercise program.

What prior data suggests that this exercise program is safe for brain tumor patients and their caregivers?

Research shows that exercise is safe and beneficial for people with cancer, even in complicated cases. Studies have found that exercise improves quality of life and physical abilities for those with brain cancer. Strong evidence indicates that exercise programs, like the one in this study, can benefit cancer patients. These programs aim to enhance daily activities and mental health without causing harm. Participants have managed the exercise programs well, with no major safety issues reported. This suggests that the exercise in the trial is likely safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

"Researchers are excited about the 'Exercise Together' program because it uniquely combines exercise with social support, potentially benefiting brain tumor patients in ways traditional treatments might not. Unlike standard brain tumor treatments, which often focus solely on medical or surgical interventions, this program incorporates virtual resistance training sessions that patients and their caregivers can do together. This approach not only aims to improve physical health but also strengthens emotional well-being through shared activity, offering a holistic complement to existing care."

What evidence suggests that the Exercise Together program is effective for primary brain tumor patients and their caregivers?

Research has shown that exercise can greatly improve the mental and physical health of cancer patients, even in complicated cases. Early results suggest that exercise is safe and can enhance the quality of life and daily functioning for people with brain cancer. In this trial, participants will engage in the Exercise Together program, which focuses on resistance training to strengthen muscles needed for everyday tasks. This type of exercise has enhanced physical ability and mental health. Although not specifically studied in patients with primary brain tumors, similar exercise programs have succeeded in other situations, indicating possible benefits for both patients and their caregivers. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Anh Huan Vo

Principal Investigator

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with primary brain tumors and their caregivers. Participants should be able to perform basic daily activities and have a caregiver willing to join the exercise program with them. There are no specific exclusion criteria provided, but typically those who may not safely engage in physical activity or have contraindications for MRI might be excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

Patient participants and caregiver participants must have home internet sufficient for videoconferencing

Patient participants are permitted to participate in other therapeutic interventional clinical trials for PBT

I am willing and available to follow the study's procedures for its entire duration.

Exclusion Criteria

Patient and caregiver participants must not have engaged in two or more regular strength training sessions per week (e.g., physical therapy) during the past 30 days, as confirmed by self-report on the health history questionnaire

Patient participants and caregiver participants with cognitive difficulties preclude answering survey questions. In the event of a suspected undeclared cognitive impairment, it will be confirmed by physician clearance or professional opinion of the principal investigator

I cannot do moderate exercise due to a serious health issue like recent surgery, severe diabetes, or major heart problems.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in the Exercise Together virtual resistance training sessions, twice weekly for 12 weeks

12 weeks

24 virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Monthly follow-up visits

Extended Follow-up

Participants continue to be monitored monthly for additional safety and quality of life assessments

4 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Exercise Together

Trial Overview The 'Exercise Together' program is being tested, which involves partnered functional resistance training aimed at improving everyday functioning for patients with primary brain tumors and their caregivers. The study also includes health record reviews, questionnaires, and MRIs to assess the impact of the intervention.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Supportive care (Exercise Together) Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Patients and caregivers participate in Exercise Together virtual resistance training sessions, over 75 minutes each, twice weekly for 12 weeks. Patients may undergo MRI throughout the study as part of their standard care.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

239

Recruited

2,089,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07278440?aggFilters=status%3A

An Exercise Intervention for Improving Mental and Physical ... While exercise is known to improve outcomes in cancer patients, its impact on primary brain tumor patients and caregivers remains unstudied.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5736053/

Exercise Improves Physical Function and Mental Health of ... The findings reported above, along with new and emerging evidence, suggests that exercise is safe and beneficial for even the most complex cancer cases, ...

3. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638288.2023.2221041

The safety, feasibility, and efficacy of an 18-week exercise ... Preliminary evidence support that exercise is safe and beneficial to the quality of life and functional outcomes for people with brain cancer.

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772696724000073

Exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention for the ... This study will be the first to explore the feasibility and acceptability of exercise for the management of sleep disturbance in primary brain tumour survivors ...

5. spandidos-publications.com spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/wasj.2024.256

Exercise intervention may play a potential therapeutic role ... A controlled clinical trial demonstrated that 12 weeks of aerobic exercise was an effective, safe, and low-cost therapy for enhancing brain ...

6. medrxiv.org medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.29.25336660v1.full.pdf

Promoting physical activity in glioma patients Compliance and safety of a novel home exercise program for patients with high-grade brain tumors, a prospective observational study. Support ...