Adaptive aerobic exercise during colon cancer chemotherapy
Official title: Adaptive Randomization of Aerobic Exercise During Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer
Funded at Adventhealth Orlando · NIH-11350996 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program uses tailored aerobic exercise during chemotherapy to help people with stage II–III colon cancer complete their chemo doses and reduce side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Adventhealth Orlando NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orlando, United States) |
| Project start | June 3, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $373,541 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA271279-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11350996 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with stage II–III colon cancer who are receiving chemotherapy and who can safely do aerobic exercise.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot safely perform aerobic activity, have metastatic disease, or are not receiving chemotherapy are unlikely to benefit from this program.
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be one of about 219 people with stage II–III colon cancer receiving chemotherapy across three regions. The first 80 participants are equally assigned to one of four different weekly aerobic exercise doses (from 75 to 300 minutes) or a stretching control, and after that the study adapts to assign more people to the exercise doses that look most promising. The exercise plan is adjusted around chemotherapy cycles so some weeks are easier and some are more active to match how you feel. Researchers will track chemo dose delivered on time, patient-reported side effects, body composition, and immune markers to see which exercise approach works best.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help more patients finish planned chemotherapy on schedule with fewer toxic side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous exercise trials in cancer have improved fitness and symptoms, but using adaptive, dose-ranging aerobic programs specifically to preserve chemotherapy dose intensity is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Adventhealth Orlando
Orlando, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Justin C — Adventhealth Orlando
- Study coordinator: Brown, Justin C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Adaptive aerobic exercise plans during chemotherapy for colon cancer
This study tests personalized aerobic exercise during chemotherapy for people with colon cancer to help them stay on their planned treatment schedule and reduce side effects.
-
How aerobic exercise affects muscle health in colon cancer survivors
This study is looking at how a regular exercise program can help improve muscle health and strength in people who have survived colon cancer, with the goal of boosting their overall well-being and lowering the chances of cancer coming back.
-
Aerobic exercise and muscle health to boost outcomes in colon cancer survivors
A structured aerobic exercise program is tested to see if it improves muscle health and lowers cancer recurrence risk in people who have completed treatment for colon cancer.
-
Photodynamic lipids to boost chemotherapy for metastatic ovarian cancer
A patient-friendly approach tests a light-activated method to make ovarian cancer metastases more sensitive to chemotherapy.
-
Dual targeting of heart cell receptors to prevent chemotherapy heart damage
Atrial patients receiving the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin may be protected from heart damage by targeting two heart cell receptors at once.
-
A 3D ultrasound scanner to see early chemotherapy response in breast cancer
A new 3D ultrasound imaging method will be tested to see if it can quickly show whether breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.