The Effects of Low Intensity Endurance Exercise on Improving Mitochondrial Function, Cell Bioelectrical Impedance Phase Angle, Fatigue and Quality of Life in Lung Cancer Patients With Cancer-related Fatigue

The Effects of Low Intensity Endurance Exercise on Improving Mitochondrial Function, Cell Bioelectrical Impedance Phase Angle, Fatigue and Quality of Life in Lung Cancer Patients With Cancer-related Fatigue

To conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) targeting lung cancer patients with cancer-related fatigue to achieve the following objectives:

Objective 1: To investigate whether a low-intensity endurance exercise intervention can effectively improve mitochondrial DNA content, mitochondrial function, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complex enzyme concentrations, cellular bioelectrical impedance phase angle, cancer-related fatigue, and quality of life in lung cancer patients with cancer-related fatigue.

Objective 2: To explore whether the low-intensity endurance exercise intervention improves cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in lung cancer patients through direct or indirect effects by modulating mitochondrial DNA content, mitochondrial function, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complex enzyme concentrations, and cellular bioelectrical impedance phase angle.

After enrollment, subjects will be randomly assigned to three groups:

1. Control Group: No exercise intervention will be implemented. Subjects will maintain their usual lifestyle and daily activities.
2. Low-Intensity Endurance Continuous Training Group (Level 2 low-intensity continuous endurance exercise): Subjects will perform Level 2 low-intensity endurance exercise training for at least 30 continuous minutes per day, at least 5 days per week (75-80% peak heart rate [HR peak], Rating of Perceived Exertion [RPE] 11-12; the exerciser perceives the exertion as light, but breathing sounds increase, and they can comfortably hold a conversation during exercise but need to pause occasionally for breath). This continuous low-intensity endurance training will last for 12 consecutive weeks. Each exercise session will begin with a 5-minute warm-up, followed by 30 minutes of continuous low-intensity endurance exercise, and conclude with a gradual 10-minute cool-down until completely stopping.
3. Low-Intensity Endurance Interval Training Group (Alternating 3 minutes of Level 2 low-intensity endurance exercise and 3 minutes of Level 1 lowest-intensity endurance exercise, for a total of 5 alternating cycles): Subjects will perform alternating Level 2 and Level 1 (65-75% HR peak, RPE <11; the exerciser perceives the exertion as very light) exercise training for at least 30 continuous minutes per day, at least 5 days per week. This low-intensity endurance interval training will last for 12 consecutive weeks. Each exercise session will begin with a 5-minute warm-up, followed by 30 minutes of low-intensity endurance interval training, and conclude with a gradual 10-minute cool-down until completely stopping.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer by a physician ;
2. Patients aged 20-70 years;
3. Patients who are determined by a physician, after assessment of their physical condition, to be suitable for exercise;
4. Patients who have graduated from elementary school or above.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who are unable to communicate in Mandarin, Taiwanese, or Hakka;
2. Patients who are determined by a physician to be physically unsuitable for performing any exercise.