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NCT Number: NCT07059884

Distance-Based Exercise to Preserve Function and Prevent Disability

This clinical trial studies whether an exercise program can be successfully delivered to patients receiving treatment for cancer through virtual sessions and allow patients to exercise in their own home. Treatments for cancer can cause side effects such as fatigue and loss of strength. These side effects can make it difficult to work, take care of family, and do other things the patient wants to do. Preliminary research shows that exercise can help prevent some of these side effects, but it can be more difficult to start an exercise program when a patient is receiving cancer treatment. The exercise program in this study is delivered through telehealth (TH) video calls. The TH sessions are delivered by trained staff that supervise resistance exercises. The trained staff also provide guidance to the patient on completing unsupervised aerobic sessions on their own. This may be a successful way to deliver an exercise program and make it easier for cancer patients to exercise in their own home during treatment.

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Key information

Conditions

Localized Malignant Solid Neoplasm Adnexal Diseases Anal Cancer Anus Diseases Anus Neoplasms Biliary Tract Diseases Biliary Tract Neoplasms Bladder (Urothelial, Transitional Cell) Cancer Breast Cancer Breast Diseases Breast Neoplasms Cervical Cancer Colon Cancer Colonic Diseases Colonic Neoplasms Colorectal Neoplasms Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Endocrine Gland Neoplasms Endocrine System Diseases Endometrial Cancer Endometrial Neoplasms Esophageal Cancer Esophageal Diseases Esophageal Neoplasms Female Urogenital Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Gall Bladder Cancer Gallbladder Diseases Gallbladder Neoplasms Gastric Cancer Gastrointestinal Diseases Gastrointestinal Neoplasms Genital Diseases Genital Diseases, Female Genital Diseases, Male Genital Neoplasms, Female Genital Neoplasms, Male Gonadal Disorders Head and Neck Cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms Intestinal Diseases Intestinal Neoplasms Kidney Cancer Kidney Diseases Kidney Neoplasms Liver Cancer Liver Diseases Liver Neoplasms Lung Cancer Lung Diseases Lung Neoplasms Male Urogenital Diseases Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms, Connective and Soft Tissue Ovarian Cancer Ovarian Diseases Ovarian Neoplasms Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatic Diseases Pancreatic Neoplasms Prostate Cancer Prostatic Diseases Prostatic Neoplasms Rectal Cancer Rectal Diseases Rectal Neoplasms Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Neoplasms Sarcoma Skin Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Stomach Diseases Stomach Neoplasms Thoracic Neoplasms Urogenital Diseases Urogenital Neoplasms Urologic Diseases Urologic Neoplasms Uterine Cervical Diseases Uterine Cervical Neoplasms Uterine Diseases Uterine Neoplasms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kaiser Permanente Dublin, Dublin, California, United States

Loading trial locations.

About this study

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To establish the feasibility of implementing a virtual exercise intervention trial in a diverse cohort of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To establish feasibility of enrolling and retaining a diverse patient population.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. Evaluate changes in 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) distance in the study population between baseline and the post-chemotherapy time point.

II. Evaluate changes in grip strength in the study population between baseline and the post-intervention time point.

III. Evaluate objective (accelerometer) and self-reported changes (7-Day Physical Activity Recall Interview) in physical activity in the study population between baseline and the post-intervention time point.

IV. Explore the relationship between the predicted 6MWT and the baseline 6MWT. V. Explore changes in patient reported outcomes between baseline, end of intervention, and 3-months post intervention in the study population.

VI. Explore employment status over time in the study population.

VII. Explore differences intervention adherence and attrition by:

  • Duration of chemotherapy regimen (12 weeks or less vs more than 12 weeks)
  • Administration of chemotherapy in adjuvant vs neoadjuvant setting
  • Administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy alone vs in combination with radiation
  • Administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy alone vs in combination with immunotherapy or other targeted agent (monoclonal antibody, small molecule inhibitor, etc)

OUTLINE:

Patients complete supervised TH exercise sessions consisting of aerobic exercise over 20 minutes and progressive resistance exercise twice a week (BIW) and complete unsupervised aerobic exercise for a total of 50 minutes per week until the end of standard of care (SOC) chemotherapy or up to a total of 6 months, whichever comes first, in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also receive a stationary bike, workbook, gloves, and resistance bands on study and wear an accelerometer throughout the study.

After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up at 4 weeks and 3 months.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Participants must have histologically confirmed diagnosis of one of the following cancers: anus, bladder, breast, cervix, colon/rectum, endometrium, esophagus, gallbladder, head/neck, kidney, liver, lung, ovary, pancreas, prostate, sarcoma, stomach
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Participants must be initiating outpatient cytotoxic chemotherapy for curative intent of at least 10 weeks duration (with or without concurrent radiation, immunotherapy, or other targeted therapy). Patients must be enrolled and baseline measures collected on or before administration of their second cycle of cytotoxic therapy. Patients receiving outpatient cytotoxic chemotherapy for curative intent in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting are eligible. Patients receiving definitive chemoradiation for the tumors listed above, are also eligible. Regimens of immunotherapy or monoclonal antibodies ONLY are not eligible
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Age 18-64 years
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Patients cannot have metastatic cancer
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Patients cannot have documentation in the medical record of severe cardiovascular, respiratory or musculoskeletal disease or joint problems that preclude moderate physical activity. Examples would include unstable angina, recent myocardial infarction, oxygen-dependent pulmonary disease, and osteoarthritis requiring imminent joint replacement. Moderate arthritis that does not preclude physical activity is not a reason for ineligibility
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Patients cannot be pregnant, because this study involves remotely delivered exercise, and cannot be breast-feeding as patients must be receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy, during which breast-feeding is contraindicated
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Patients cannot have documentation in the medical record of current alcohol, substance abuse, or dementia
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Engaged in full time gainful employment of at least 30 hours per week at the time of cancer diagnosis
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Currently no self-report of engagement in competitive sports (e.g. not training for running races, triathlons, etc.) AND no self-report of twice weekly progressive resistance exercise training for at least 3 consecutive months within the past year
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Self-reported ability to walk for 6 minutes (use of assistive devices will be allowed)
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Not participating in another weight loss, physical activity, or dietary intervention clinical trial
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Predicted 6MWT distance of 550 meters or less
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Concurrent enrollment in treatment or supportive care trials (other than those focused on weight loss or exercise) is allowed with the permission of the Alliance Executive Officer and both studies' study chairs
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): Eligibility is restricted to individuals who can comprehend and read English given that participation in the study will require the ability to read intervention materials and work with a coach through telehealth sessions
  • REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STEP 1): The trial is unable to accommodate the needs of deaf or blind participants as the study relies on language and visualization of exercise through telehealth sessions
  • CLINICAL STAKEHOLDER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Clinicians and research staff from enrolling sites who meet following criterion will be deemed eligible to participate as a clinical stakeholder:
  • Providing clinical care for participating patients on this study
  • CLINICAL STAKEHOLDER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Ability to speak and understand English

Exclusion criteria

-

Treatment and study plan

Exercise intervention

Other

Complete supervised TH aerobic and progressive resistance exercise sessions

Telemedicine

Other

Complete supervised TH aerobic and progressive resistance exercise sessions

Other names: Telehealth

Aerobic Exercise Intervention

Other

Complete unsupervised aerobic exercise

Accelerometry

Procedure

Wear accelerometer

Questionnaire Administration

Other

Ancillary studies

interview

Other

Ancillary studies

Electronic Health Record Review

Other

Ancillary studies

Primary outcomes

  1. Percentage of completed exercise sessions (Feasibility)

    Time frame: Up to 6 months

    Feasibility will be defined through intervention adherence. Will set a priori thresholds for this outcome to define success as detailed. For evaluating the uptake of the intervention, will assess the percentage of enrolled participants who complete at least 70% of prescribed exercise sessions. Will calculate the proportion of participants meeting this threshold and compare it to the predefined success criterion of 80%. Descriptive statistics (percentages) will be reported along with 95% confidence intervals.

  2. Intervention attrition rate (Feasibility)

    Time frame: Up to 6 months

    Feasibility will be defined through intervention attrition. Will set a priori thresholds for this outcome to define success as detailed. To examine attrition from the trial, will calculate the attrition rate by dividing the number of participants who drop out of the trial by the total number of enrolled participants. The a priori acceptable attrition rate is no greater than 20%. Descriptive statistics (attrition rate) will be presented, and a comparison with the predefined threshold will be made.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Weekly recruitment rate

    Time frame: From the date that the study is activated at all 4 enrolling sites and the first patient is enrolled, assessed up to 58 weeks

    Feasibility of enrolling a diverse patient population will be defined by: Enrolling 80 patients over a 58-week time period, from the date that the study is activated at all 4 enrolling sites and the first patient is enrolled. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) will be reported for weekly recruitment, along with graphical representations of recruitment trends over time.

  2. Retaining a diverse patient population

    Time frame: From the date that the study is activated at all 4 enrolling sites and the first patient is enrolled, assessed up to 58 weeks

    Descriptive statistics (percentages) will be summarized for patients who meet at least one of the following criteria: Racial or ethnic minority status (African American, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander), low socioeconomic status (defined as residing in an area in one of the top two quintiles of the Neighborhood Deprivation Index), residing in a rural area (Rural-Urban Continuum Codes or Rural-Urban Commuting Area Code, code 4-10).

Other outcomes

  1. Change in 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) distance

    Time frame: From baseline to end of intervention, which is defined as end of chemotherapy (within 4 weeks of the final chemotherapy administration) or up to a total of 6 months of intervention, whichever comes first

    Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) will be used to summarize changes in 6MWT distance in the study population between baseline and the post-intervention time point.

  2. Change in grip strength

    Time frame: From baseline to end of intervention, which is defined as end of chemotherapy (within 4 weeks of the final chemotherapy administration) or up to a total of 6 months of intervention, whichever comes first

    Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) will be used to summarize changes in grip strength in the study population between baseline and the post-intervention time point

  3. Objective changes in physical activity

    Time frame: From baseline to end of intervention, which is defined as end of chemotherapy (within 4 weeks of the final chemotherapy administration) or up to a total of 6 months of intervention, whichever comes first

    Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) will be used to summarize changes in objectively measured physical activity using the accelerometer, including average daily step count, average daily minutes of sedentary time, light activity, and moderate-to-vigorous activity.

  4. Self-reported changes in physical activity

    Time frame: From baseline to end of intervention, which is defined as end of chemotherapy (within 4 weeks of the final chemotherapy administration) or up to a total of 6 months of intervention, whichever comes first

    Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) will be used to summarize self-reported changes (7-Day Physical Activity Recall Interview) in physical activity in the study population between baseline and the post-intervention time point.

  5. Relationship between predicted 6MWT and baseline 6MWT

    Time frame: At baseline

    Person correlation coefficient will be used to summarize the relationship between the predicted 6MWT and the baseline 6MWT.

  6. Changes in patient reported outcomes

    Time frame: From baseline to end of intervention, which is defined as end of chemotherapy (within 4 weeks of the final chemotherapy administration) or up to a total of 6 months of intervention, whichever comes first

    Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) will be used to summarize changes in patient reported outcomes between baseline, end of intervention, and 3-months post intervention in the study population.

  7. Employment status

    Time frame: Up to 3-months post-intervention

    Descriptive statistics (frequency table) histogram will be used to explore the employment status over time in the study population.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Lilli Johnson

CONTACT

[email protected]

773-834-4091

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Registry information

Acronym: DEFEND

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jul 11, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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