Harnessing Exercise to Improve Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer
Official title: Harnessing Exercise to Enhance Immunity and Boost Immunotherapy Outcomes in Patients with Lung Cancer
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11364173 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinical study tests whether a structured exercise program can boost how well lung cancer patients respond to immunotherapy and reduce treatment-related side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00CA287050-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364173 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with non-small cell lung cancer currently treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who cannot participate in exercise due to medical contraindications or who do not respond to immunotherapy may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This study will enroll patients with non-small cell lung cancer who are receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. Participants will follow a supervised exercise plan to see if physical activity can increase immune cell activity in the tumor and improve treatment responses. The researchers will monitor safety, immune markers, fitness levels, and any adverse events to understand how exercise interacts with immunotherapy. The goal is to determine if exercise is a feasible, beneficial add-on that could help more patients respond to therapy and enjoy fewer irAEs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience better responses to immunotherapy and fewer treatment-related side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research suggests exercise can enhance immune function and reduce adverse events in cancer patients, with this study applying those concepts to immunotherapy in lung cancer.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kang, Dong-Woo — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Kang, Dong-Woo
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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.