A Study on the Effects of Exercise on Side Effects From Treatment for Gastrointestinal Cancers

Dose-response of Aerobic Training During Chemotherapy for Gastrointestinal Cancers

The purpose of this study is to find the level of aerobic exercise (AT) that is practical, is safe, and has positive effects on the body that may reduce the side effects of therapy. The study will also look at the way the body responds to exercise and whether there are differences in treatment. This will include looking at the highest treatment dose participants receive, how many people stop, delay, or reduce the treatment, and whether additional medication is needed to treat side effects of therapy.

Study staff will also confirm remote training feasibility including items such as access to Wi-Fi and a treadmill for the study duration. If patients do not have access to a treadmill, ExOnc staff may coordinate access to a fitness facility local to the participant, to facilitate treadmill access for the study duration. Fitness facility access will be provided through Wellhub, a service that allows use of nearby gyms and studios through a single app-based solution.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged ≥18 years

• Diagnosed with colorectal or esophago/gastric solid tumors as defined by one of the following:

  • Histological confirmation
  • As per standard of care imaging

• Scheduled to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemotherapy for newly diagnosed metastatic disease

• Performing ≤90 minutes of structured moderate-intensity or strenuous-intensity exercise per week, as evaluated by self-report

• Willingness to comply with all study-related procedures

• Cleared for exercise participation as per screening clearance via the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria:

• Enrollment onto any other lifestyle interventional investigational study, except interventions determined by the PI not to confound study outcomes
• Receiving treatment for any other diagnosis of invasive cancer
• Mental impairment leading to inability to cooperate
• Any other condition or intercurrent illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, makes the subject a poor candidate for study participation