Home-Based Exercise for Cancer Patients

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

+1 other location

Overseen by Christina M Dieli-Conwright, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Disqualifiers: Musculoskeletal, Cardiorespiratory, Diabetes, Hypertension, others

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this research is to determine whether a 16 week, home-based, aerobic and resistance exercise intervention will increase physical activity levels in Black and Hispanic breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer patients. The names of the study interventions involved in this study are: * Supervised aerobic and resistance exercise (SUP) - virtually supervised 16- week aerobic and resistance exercise performed at home via Zoom. * Unsupervised aerobic and resistance exercise (UNSUP) - home-based 16- week aerobic and resistance exercise. * Attention control (AC) - 16-week home-based stretching.

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Home-Based Exercise for Cancer Patients?

Research shows that home-based exercise, including aerobic and resistance exercises, can improve the quality of life and physical fitness in cancer survivors. Supervised and personalized programs tend to yield better results, but even unsupervised home-based exercise has shown promising outcomes in improving physical fitness. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is home-based exercise safe for cancer patients?

Research suggests that home-based exercise programs, including aerobic and resistance exercises, are generally safe for cancer survivors and may offer physical and psychological benefits. However, the studies emphasize the need for more rigorous research to confirm these findings. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

How does the home-based exercise treatment for cancer patients differ from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it allows cancer patients to perform aerobic and resistance exercises at home, either supervised or unsupervised, which can improve their quality of life and physical fitness. Unlike traditional supervised programs, this approach offers flexibility and accessibility, making it easier for patients to adhere to their exercise regimen. ^{1 2 4 5 8}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Black and Hispanic adults over 18 with stage I-III breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer who are overweight/obese. They must be starting chemotherapy soon, speak English/Spanish, do less than 90 minutes of exercise per week, and can visit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for data collection.

Inclusion Criteria

Willing to travel to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for necessary data collection

I started chemotherapy less than 4 weeks ago.

You are overweight or obese, which means you have too much body fat.

Exclusion Criteria

Subjects, who in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with the safety monitoring requirements of the study.

You are required to do structured exercise for more than 90 minutes per week.

I do not have any uncontrolled illnesses like infections or diabetes.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a 16-week home-based exercise intervention, including supervised and unsupervised aerobic and resistance exercises, or stretching exercises.

16 weeks

3x weekly at home sessions, 1x weekly telehealth call

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with assessments of cardiovascular and metabolic health, physical fitness, and quality of life.

16 weeks

1 post-intervention visit, 1 follow-up visit

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Attention Control (Behavioral Intervention)
• Supervised Home-Based Exercise (Behavioral Intervention)
• Unsupervised Home-Based Exercise (Behavioral Intervention)

Trial Overview The THRIVE Study tests if a 16-week home-based exercise program (either supervised via Zoom or unsupervised) improves physical activity in minority cancer patients compared to a control group doing stretching exercises.

Participant Groups

Group I: Unsupervised aerobic and resistance exercise (UNSUP) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive 3x weekly at home, unsupervised aerobic and resistance exercise sessions with a 1x weekly telehealth call with a certified exercise trainer for 16 weeks. Participants will also have a baseline test, mid intervention cardiovascular and strength tests and one postintervention and one follow up visit.

Group II: Supervised aerobic and resistance exercise (SUP) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive 3x weekly at home, virtually supervised aerobic and resistance exercise sessions with a certified exercise trainer for 16 weeks. Participants will also have a baseline test, mid intervention cardiovascular and strength tests and one postintervention and one follow up visit.

Group III: Attention Control (AC) Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive 3x weekly at home stretching exercise for 16 weeks. Participants will also have a baseline test, mid intervention cardiovascular and strength tests and one postintervention and one follow up visit.

Find a Clinic Near You

Research Locations Nearby Select from list below to view details:

Dana Farber Cancer Institute Boston, MA

Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, MA

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Lead Sponsor

University of Massachusetts, Boston Collaborator

National Cancer Institute (NCI) Collaborator

References

1. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a home-based exercise rehabilitation program for cancer survivors. [2019] Aerobic and resistance exercises have been promoted recently to improve quality of life in cancer patients. Most cancer survivorship rehabilitation programs consist of supervised exercise programs; however, less data is available on the effects of unsupervised or home-based exercise interventions. The study aimed to compare the physical and physiologic changes in a group of cancer survivors (CS) and a control group of non-cancer, health controls (HC) who participated in individualized home-based aerobic and resistance exercises for 12 months.

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

The prescription or proscription of exercise in endometrial cancer care. [2018] To determine the proportion of endometrial cancer patients who can be safely prescribed community/home based unsupervised exercise. A better understanding of the physical dysfunction secondary to comorbidities among endometrial cancer patients would assist clinicians in delineating which patients to send to medically-based supervised rehabilitation versus a community/home based unsupervised exercise program.

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

A randomized controlled trial of home-based exercise for cancer-related fatigue in women during and after chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy. [2022] Few studies have evaluated an individualized home-based exercise prescription during and after cancer treatment.

4. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of prehabilitation and rehabilitation including a home-based component on physical fitness, adherence, treatment tolerance, and recovery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic review. [2018] This systematic review aimed to examine physical fitness, adherence, treatment tolerance, and recovery for (p)rehabilitation including a home-based component for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines were followed. Studies describing (home-based) prehabilitation or rehabilitation in patients with NSCLC were included from four databases (January 2000-April 2016, N=11). Nine of ten rehabilitation studies and one prehabilitation study (437 NSCLC patients, mean age 59-72 years) showed significantly or clinically relevant improved physical fitness. Three (27%) assessed home-based training and eight (73%) combined training at home, inhospital (intramural) and/or at the physiotherapy practice/department (extramural). Six (55%) applied supervision of home-based components, and four (36%) a personalized training program. Adherence varied strongly (9-125% for exercises, 50-100% for patients). Treatment tolerance and recovery were heterogeneously reported. Although promising results of (p)rehabilitation for improving physical fitness were found (especially in case of supervision and personalization), adequately powered studies for home-based (p)rehabilitation are needed.

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Home-based exercise among cancer survivors: adherence and its predictors. [2021] Evidence of the benefits of exercise for those treated for cancer has led to exercise interventions for this population. Some have questioned whether cancer patients offered a home-based intervention adhere to the exercise prescribed.

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Home-Based Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Interventions in Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Systematic Review. [2021] Cancer is a chronic disease requiring long-term treatment. Exercise interventions are increasingly being recognized as an important part of treatment and supportive cancer care for patients and survivors. Previous reviews have evaluated the benefits of exercise interventions in populations of patients under supervision at a center, but none have explored the possibilities of a home-based (HB) approach in exercise during cancer rehabilitation and the period immediately following the end of cancer treatment. The aim of this descriptive systematic review was to identify the literature focusing on the health effects of HB exercise interventions in cancer survivors and to evaluate the methodological quality of the examined studies. Relevant studies were identified by a systematic search of PubMed and the Web of Science until January 2021. Nine randomized controlled trials were included. Most studies were on aerobic and resistance exercises, and the frequency, duration, intensity, and modality varied across the different interventions. Improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), physical activity (PA) levels, fatigue, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and body composition have been reported. However, all the studies were limited in methodology and the reporting of results. Nevertheless, the evidence in this new area, despite the methodological limitations of the studies, suggests that HB exercise interventions are feasible, and may provide physiological and psychological benefits for cancer survivors during the rehabilitation period. A methodologically rigorous design for future research is essential for making progress in this field of study.

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of a home-based physical activity intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness in breast cancer survivors; a randomised controlled trial. [2018] The aim of this current randomised controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of a home-based physical activity (PA) intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness in breast cancer survivors. Thirty-two post-adjuvant therapy breast cancer survivors (age = 52 ± 10 years; BMI = 27.2 ± 4.4 kg∙m2) were randomised to a six-month home-based PA intervention with face-to-face and telephone PA counselling or usual care. Cardiorespiratory fitness and self-reported PA were assessed at baseline and at six-months. Participants had a mean relative V̇O2max of 25.3 ± 4.7 ml∙kg-1∙min-1, which is categorised as "poor" according to age and gender matched normative values. Magnitude-based inference analyses revealed likely at least small beneficial effects (effect sizes ≥.20) on absolute and relative V̇O2 max (d = .44 and .40, respectively), and total and moderate PA (d = .73 and .59, respectively) in the intervention compared to the usual care group. We found no likely beneficial improvements in any other outcome. Our home-based PA intervention led to likely beneficial, albeit modest, increases in cardiorespiratory fitness and self-reported PA in breast cancer survivors. This intervention has the potential for widespread implementation and adoption, which could considerably impact on post-treatment recovery in this population.

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

Effectiveness of a Home-Based Exercise Intervention in the Fitness Profile of Hispanic Survivors of Breast Cancer. [2022] Home-based exercise interventions might be a desirable long-term option for breast cancer survivors to enhance compliance and long-term health benefits.