Feasibility and Safety of Exercise in Patients With Low-risk (or Early-stage) Myeloid Cancers and Precursor Conditions (HemEx): a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how exercise might affect people with low-risk myeloid cancers or precursor conditions such as Clonal Cytopenia of Undetermined Significance (CCUS) and early-stage Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). These conditions can lead to serious blood cancers like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) over time, especially in older adults. The study aims to explore if exercise can alter the bone marrow environment to delay or prevent disease progression, improve quality of life, and assess the feasibility and safety of such interventions. Participants will be randomly assigned to either continue their usual care or engage in a high-intensity interval exercise program totaling 180 minutes per week. This includes 12 weeks of supervised exercise followed by 12 weeks of non-supervised exercise. The trial is designed as a pilot to evaluate the practical aspects of conducting exercise interventions in this patient group and to observe potential biological and clinical effects. During the study, participants' attendance at exercise sessions, recruitment and retention rates, and any adverse events will be closely monitored over 24 weeks. Various health measures will be assessed, including aerobic capacity, muscle strength, body composition, blood biochemistry, immune markers, and patient-reported symptoms, at baseline, after the supervised exercise period, and after the non-supervised phase. These evaluations will help understand how exercise impacts disease-related factors and daily functioning in this population.

Feasibility and Safety of Exercise in Patients With Low-risk Myeloid Cancers and Precursor Conditions