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Impact of Exercise on the Complications of Corticosteroids in Patients With GVHD: the RESTART Trial

Impact of Exercise on the Complications of Corticosteroids in Patients With Graft-Versus-Host Disease Following Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: the RESTART Trial

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05236062
Acronym
RESTART
Enrollment
36
Registered
2022-02-11
Start date
2022-04-14
Completion date
2027-09-09
Last updated
2026-03-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Acute-graft-versus-host Disease, Chronic Graft-versus-host-disease, Graft Vs Host Disease

Keywords

Graft Vs Host Disease, Acute-graft-versus-host Disease, Chronic Graft-versus-host-disease, Corticosteroids, Allogeneic stem cell transplant

Brief summary

This study is about determining if an aerobic and resistance exercise intervention is feasible in patients diagnosed with acute or chronic GVHD (Graft-Versus-Host Disease) after having an allogeneic stem cell transplant. The names of the study interventions involved in this study are: * Aerobic and resistance exercise (A+R) - Home-based aerobic and resistance exercise program * Attention control (AC) - Home-based stretching program

Detailed description

This research study is a feasibility study, which is the first-time investigators are examining an aerobic and resistance exercise (A+R) in patients diagnosed with acute or chronic GVHD after having an allogeneic stem cell transplant and if participating in a specific exercise program can improve glycemic control, body composition, physical fitness and function, and patient-reported outcomes. This study consists of participants randomly assigned in 2(A+R):1(AC) ratio to one of two groups: * Aerobic and resistance exercise (A+R), or * Attention control (AC) The A+R group will be asked to perform aerobic exercise, which can improve cardiovascular (heart) and lung function, and resistance exercise (e.g., dumbbell lifting), to help build muscle mass and strength. The AC group will be asked to perform stretching only and not to change their activity behavior. All participants will also undergo four testing visits involving four blood draws and three body composition scans via a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Participants will be in this research study for 6 months. It is expected that about 36 people will take part in this research study.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALExercise

aerobic and resistance exercise

BEHAVIORALAttention control

stretching

Sponsors

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Over 18 years old; children under the age of 18 will be excluded due to rarity of disease * Newly diagnosed with acute or chronic GVHD, starting corticosteroids at a dose of .20 mg/kg or greater for the first time since transplant * Received allogeneic stem cell transplant (any conditioning, any donor) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute * Physician's clearance to participate in moderate-vigorous intensity exercise * Speak English * Currently participate in less than 60 minutes of structured exercise/week * Willing to travel to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for necessary data collection * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion criteria

* Have a plan for hospital admission within the next 13 weeks at the time of recruitment * If patients are not enrolled within 14 days after initial steroid treatment, they will be ineligible * Pre-existing musculoskeletal or cardiorespiratory conditions * Patients should not have any uncontrolled illness including ongoing or active infection, uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, or thyroid disease * Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents, or concurrent biological, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy * Patients with other active malignancies * Participate in more than 60 minutes of structured exercise/week * Unable to travel to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for necessary data collection * Subjects, who in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with the safety monitoring requirements of the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Proportion of patients completing the exercise intervention sessions12 weeksThe primary outcome is feasibility and will be assessed by the proportion of patients completing the exercise intervention sessions with \>70% completion considered feasible.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Glycemic control levelEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upGlycemic control level change will be measured by Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA). Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Body CompositionEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upBody Composition Index change will be measured by Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). Differences in lean mass, fat mass, and body fat % between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Cardiopulmonary FitnessEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upCardiopulmonary fitness will be measured by a submaximal graded exercise cycling test. Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Physical function - Margaria Stair ClimbEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upFunctional power will be measured using the Margaria Stair Climb test. Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Physical FitnessEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upPhysical Fitness will be measured by the short physical performance battery (SPPB). Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Physical Function - Handgrip StrengthEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upHandgrip strength will be measured by a hand-held dynamometer. Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Physical Function - Timed Up and GoEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upPhysical function will be assessed with the timed-up-and-go (TUG) test. Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Physical Function - 6 minute walk testEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upPhysical function will be assessed with the 6 minute walk test (6MWT). Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Muscular StrengthEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upMuscular strength will be assessed with a 10 repetition maximum test. Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Patient reported outcomes - FatigueEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upFatigue will be measured by the PROMIS cancer fatigue short form. Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Patient reported outcomes - FunctionEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upFunction will be measured by the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES). Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Patient reported outcomes - Quality of LifeEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upQuality of life will be assessed by the functional assessment of cancer therapy - bone marrow transplant (FACT-BMT). Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.
Patient reported outcomes - Anxiety and DepressionEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upAnxiety and depression will be assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI. The HADS is a fourteen item scale. Seven of the items relate to anxiety and seven relate to depression. The anxiety and depression subscales each range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating higher anxiety/depression complains. Patients were defined as having anxiety or depression or both if the score was 8 or more in the corresponding subscale.
Patient reported outcomes - SleepEvaluated at week 1 at baseline and week 7 on treatment, and at week 13 post-treatment also at week 25 follow-upSleep will be assessed by the Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI). Differences between post- and pre-intervention will be assessed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For binary outcomes, it will be a calculation of the proportion and corresponding 95% exact CI.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTChristina Dieli-Conwright, PhD, MPH
ChristinaM_Dieli-Conwright@dfci.harvard.edu617-582-8321
CONTACTJordan Lane, MS
jordan_lane@dfci.harvard.edu617-582-7494
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORChristina Dieli-Conwright

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 12, 2026