ENERGIA: Exercise in Rare Hematologic Diseases With Individualized and Adapted Management
ENERGIA: Exercise in Rare Hematologic Diseases With Individualized and Adapted Management
This study evaluates whether a personalized, supervised exercise program can improve fatigue and physical function in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Although many patients achieve good disease control with modern therapies, they often experience persistent symptoms such as fatigue that significantly affect daily life.
Participants will take part in a 12-week exercise program that includes aerobic and resistance training, tailored to their individual fitness level and clinical condition. The program consists of two supervised sessions per week, along with additional home-based aerobic activity. Before and after the program, participants will undergo comprehensive assessments, including cardiopulmonary exercise testing, physical function tests, questionnaires on fatigue and quality of life, and blood sample collection.
The study aims to determine whether this type of exercise program is feasible and safe, and whether it can reduce fatigue and improve physical capacity, quality of life, and biological markers related to inflammation and metabolism. Participants will also be followed after the intervention to evaluate whether the benefits are maintained over time.
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis, as well as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), are chronic hematologic conditions characterized by prolonged survival but a substantial and persistent symptom burden. Among these, fatigue represents one of the most prevalent and disabling symptoms, often persisting despite optimal disease control. Its pathophysiology is multifactorial and involves chronic low-grade inflammation, immune dysregulation, neuroendocrine alterations, impaired mitochondrial function, and reduced physical capacity.
Exercise has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention capable of targeting several of these mechanisms simultaneously. Acute and chronic exercise are known to modulate inflammatory pathways, improve mitochondrial efficiency, enhance autonomic regulation, and increase cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength. These adaptations are biologically plausible mediators of improvements in fatigue and overall functional status. However, evidence specifically addressing patients with MPN and CML remains limited, and data on feasibility, safety, and mechanistic responses are still scarce.
This study is a prospective, single-arm, interventional trial designed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of a structured, personalized exercise program in patients with MPN and CML. The intervention consists of a 12-week supervised program combining aerobic and resistance training, delivered twice weekly, with additional home-based aerobic activity to achieve recommended weekly exercise volumes. Exercise intensity is individualized based on baseline clinical and cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters.
Participants will undergo a comprehensive multidimensional assessment at baseline (T0), after the intervention (T1), and at follow-up (T2). Outcomes include feasibility measures (adherence and retention), safety (adverse events), and clinical endpoints such as fatigue, fatigability, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical function, body composition, cardiovascular risk profile, and psychosocial well-being. In addition, the study includes exploratory analyses of immunometabolic responses, integrating metabolomic and inflammatory biomarker profiling to investigate potential biological mechanisms underlying clinical changes.
The results of this study are expected to provide clinically relevant data on the implementation of exercise as a supportive therapy in patients with chronic hematologic malignancies and to inform the design of future controlled trials.
Inclusion Criteria:
Age ≥18 years Confirmed diagnosis of myeloproliferative neoplasm (polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, low-risk primary myelofibrosis) or chronic myeloid leukemia according to WHO criteria Clinical and therapeutic stability for at least 8 weeks prior to enrollment Presence of clinically relevant fatigue as assessed by validated disease-specific questionnaires General clinical condition compatible with participation in a supervised exercise program of at least moderate intensity Absence of contraindications to cardiopulmonary exercise testing No participation in structured exercise or rehabilitation programs within the previous 3 months Minimum hematological safety parameters (hemoglobin >10 g/dL; platelets >100,000 × 10⁹/L) Ability to understand and comply with study procedures Provision of written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
Unstable cardiovascular conditions (including uncontrolled heart failure, recent myocardial ischemia, symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias, or unexplained syncope) Thrombotic or hemorrhagic events within the previous 3 months Active acute or chronic infections Severe orthopedic or neurological conditions limiting the ability to perform exercise or functional testing Severe systemic diseases (e.g., advanced renal or hepatic failure, active secondary malignancy, uncontrolled psychiatric disorders) Any clinical condition that, in the investigator's judgment, may compromise safety or adherence to the protocol Indication for a primary structured rehabilitation program based on physiatric evaluation
carmen.fava@unito.it00390115082224