Exercise for Lung Cancer

Overseen By Melissa Landau

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Arizona

Disqualifiers: Obesity, Arthritis, HIV, Hepatitis, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how exercise might improve outcomes for individuals undergoing surgery for early-stage lung cancer. Researchers aim to determine whether pre-surgery exercise can alter the tumor environment and enhance the body's immune response to cancer. Participants will follow a specific exercise routine to assess its impact on recovery and health post-surgery. This study is suitable for those with lung cancer who are healthy enough for exercise and meet specific health criteria. As an unphased trial, participants can contribute to groundbreaking research that may enhance recovery and health outcomes for future patients.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this exercise regimen is safe for lung cancer patients?

Studies have shown that exercise is safe and beneficial for people with lung cancer. Research indicates that exercise can improve fitness, strength, and quality of life for these patients. Additionally, a review of multiple studies found that exercising before lung surgery can lead to better outcomes for patients.

Several reviews also support the idea that lung cancer patients can handle exercise well, highlighting that exercise can help patients engage in more physical activities. Overall, the evidence suggests that exercise is not only safe but also helpful for lung cancer patients. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about exercise training for lung cancer because it offers a non-invasive approach to support patients before surgery. Unlike traditional treatments like chemotherapy or radiation that focus on directly attacking cancer cells, this method aims to enhance a patient's physical fitness, potentially improving surgical outcomes and recovery. By targeting the patient's overall health, especially their respiratory and cardiovascular efficiency, exercise training could help them better withstand the stress of surgery and improve their quality of life.

What evidence suggests that exercise training might be an effective treatment for lung cancer?

Research has shown that exercise can benefit people with lung cancer. Studies have found that exercise reduces cancer-related fatigue and enhances overall fitness and strength. Participants with lung cancer in exercise programs reported improved quality of life. Exercise also correlates with better heart and lung fitness, crucial for recovery and well-being. These findings suggest that exercise might aid the body in fighting cancer, potentially leading to better patient outcomes. Participants in this trial will engage in an exercise regimen designed to explore these potential benefits further. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Stephanie Worrell, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Arizona

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with early-stage lung cancer who are in good physical health and can perform exercise. They should have a measurable baseline fitness level, including VO2max, heart rate variability (HRV), and resting heart rate. The study excludes those who cannot engage in strenuous exercise or follow the pre-operative exercise regimen.

Inclusion Criteria

Low risk for submaximal exercise testing in accordance with the risk stratification guidelines published by the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine (AHA/ACSM criteria)

I have lung cancer.

Exclusion Criteria

Select a condition on the ACSM-AHA pre-exercise screening questionnaire indicating that physician approval is required prior to exercise

Waist girth of >102cm for men and >88cm for women

Common illness (i.e. colds) within the past 6 weeks

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-3 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Pre-operative Monitoring

Participants' physiologic data is recorded using wearable devices

2-3 weeks

Continuous monitoring

Exercise Intervention

Participants perform targeted pre-operative exercise regimen

2 weeks

3-4 visits (in-person)

Surgery and Perioperative Assessment

Lung cancer specimens are collected and analyzed for TME alterations

Perioperative

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for recurrence and long-term survival

Up to 24 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Exercise Training

Trial Overview The study tests how strenuous exercise before surgery affects the tumor microenvironment and genetic makeup of lung tumors. Participants will do targeted exercises at 60-80% of their VO2 max for 75 minutes per week over two weeks compared to those doing normal activities.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Exercise arm Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

All patients will be offered a lab exercise regimen. For completion of Aim 2, only three or four visits are necessary, amounting to approximately 4 hours of the patient's time. The initial visit will be for pre-exercise screening. If the patient is deemed healthy enough to participate, an exercise test to determine the ventilatory threshold of the participant will be conducted and the VO2 determined. In the subsequent visits, the patient will perform exercise for 30 minutes at 15% above the volunteer's ventilatory threshold. Ideally, the patients will be able to complete a minimum of three sessions prior to surgery.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Arizona

Lead Sponsor

Trials

545

Recruited

161,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11910083/

Effect of exercise for patients with advanced lung cancer ... Exercise significantly reduces cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in patients with advanced lung cancer, with particular benefit in those aged ≤60 years.

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1440244024002639

Exercise in cancer care for people with lung cancer Improvements in fitness, strength and quality of life have been demonstrated in people with lung cancer following participation in exercise programmes before, ...

3. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2812767

Effectiveness of Aerobic Exercise and Tai Chi Interventions ... A recent meta-analysis revealed that AE and MBE improved sleep in patients with cancer who were experiencing poor sleep. However, most studies ...

4. bjsm.bmj.com bjsm.bmj.com/content/59/14/1010

Impact of exercise on health outcomes in people with cancer 115–117 Mind–body exercises such as yoga, Tai Chi and Qigong improved cognitive function in patients with lung cancer. However, the level of evidence for this ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7066706/

Physical Activity and Exercise in Lung Cancer Care Physical activity and exercise are nonpharmacological interventions that have been shown to improve fatigue, quality of life, cardiorespiratory fitness, ...

6. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1563478/full

Postoperative outcomes of preoperative exercise training ... Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicated that preoperative exercise training was effective for lung cancer patients scheduled for lung ...

7. lungcancerjournal.info lungcancerjournal.info/article/S0169-5002(13)00459-5/fulltext

Short and long-term effects of supervised versus unsupervised ... This study evaluated short and long-term effects of supervised group exercise training on health-related quality of life and physical performance in patients, ...

8. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/jcrjournal/fulltext/2019/03000/exercise_training_in_patients_with_non_small_cell.9.aspx

Exercise Training in Patients With Non–Small Cell Lung... Several systematic reviews conclude that exercise training is safe in lung cancer and even increases functional capacity,28 ,39–41 but only a few studies in ...