Effects of aerobic training on cancer treatment tolerability in rectal cancer patients
Official title: Dose-response of aerobic training during total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11056086 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different amounts of aerobic exercise can help people with locally advanced rectal cancer feel better and handle their treatment more easily, and it’s designed for patients who are about to start their cancer therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 6, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,224,361 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA271287-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11056086 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are inactive adults diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer who are about to begin total neoadjuvant therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already highly active or those with advanced cancer stages not eligible for total neoadjuvant therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how different amounts of aerobic training can affect the ability of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer to tolerate their cancer treatment. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of three groups, each receiving varying levels of aerobic exercise over approximately 32 weeks, starting before their treatment and continuing until just before surgery. The study aims to determine if increased aerobic activity can improve physical and psychological outcomes during total neoadjuvant therapy. By focusing on a specific cancer type and treatment regimen, the research seeks to fill a critical gap in understanding the role of exercise in cancer care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could help improve the tolerability of cancer treatments, leading to better patient outcomes and potentially higher completion rates of prescribed therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that aerobic training can improve treatment tolerability in various cancer populations, suggesting a promising avenue for this specific investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scott, Jessica — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Scott, Jessica
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Dose levels of aerobic exercise during cancer therapy for rectal cancer
A personalized exercise plan is tested to see how different amounts of aerobic training affect how well people with locally advanced rectal cancer tolerate their treatment.
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Blood tests to predict who will respond to pre-surgery therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer
A blood-based test is being developed to predict which patients with locally advanced rectal cancer will respond to neoadjuvant chemoradiation before surgery.
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Predicting who responds to preoperative therapy for rectal cancer using combined photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging
A study is testing a new imaging method to better predict which locally advanced rectal cancer patients will respond to preoperative treatment so some may avoid unnecessary surgery.
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Tucatinib and trastuzumab given before other treatments for HER2‑positive rectal cancer
People with HER2‑positive locally advanced rectal cancer will receive tucatinib plus trastuzumab up front to shrink tumors and possibly avoid radiation or surgery.
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Identifying blood markers to predict treatment response in rectal cancer patients
This study is looking at how a new blood test can help doctors figure out which patients with locally advanced rectal cancer will respond well to their treatment before they start, so they can tailor the therapy to each person and avoid unnecessary side effects.
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Using advanced imaging to predict treatment response in rectal cancer
This study is looking to help people with locally advanced rectal cancer by using new imaging methods to better understand how well they respond to treatment before surgery, which could help doctors make smarter choices and possibly spare some patients from unnecessary operations.
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.