Exercise for Gut Microbiome in Patients With Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: The COURAGE Trial

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-50
SponsorDana-Farber Cancer Institute

About this trial

This research study is a randomized controlled trial that will observe changes in microbiome activity, changes in chemotherapy toxicity, and any changes in treatment outcomes between two groups of participants undergoing chemotherapy with either early-stage or metastatic colorectal cancer.

The names of the study groups involved in this study are:

* Exercise * Waitlist Control

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Patient diagnosed with early-stage or metastatic colon or rectal cancer

Age at diagnosis 18-50 years; due to the specificity of the study question those outside the age bracket will not be included

No plans for major surgical intervention at the time of recruitment for a minimum of 12 weeks (i.e. study period; placement of port a cath is allowed)

No plans for radiation therapy at the time of recruitment for a minimum of 12 weeks

Disqualifiers

Participate in more than 90 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise per week over the past month. This study targets insufficiently active persons to assess the effect of the described exercise intervention, where additional exercise done regularly will contaminate the intervention effects.

Unstable comorbidities that prevent participation in moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise. Patients with unstable comorbidities may develop unexpected adverse events from exercise. For the purpose of patients' safety, as well as because this study involves remote, home-based exercise where close supervision is not possible, patients with unstable medical conditions are excluded.

Patients actively on a weigh loss diet and/or actively taking weight loss drugs. This could effect gut microbiome.

Patient with other active malignancies (excluding basal cell carcinoma).

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Exercise Program

    Behavioral

    A 12 week, home-based, virtually supervised, aerobic and resistance exercise training program comprised of 36 sessions. Participants will be provided with a home stationary bike, resistance bands, and Fitbit. Virtually supervised sessions will be accessible via Zoom platform. For participants who do not have a device, a Wi-Fi-enabled tablet will also be provided.

Treatment groups

84 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Group A: Exercise GroupExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Group B: Waitlist Control GroupNo intervention 0 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Gut Microbiome Genomes

Gut Microbiome Sequencing will be conducted using the stool samples at Baseline and Post-Intervention. Gut Microbiome sequencing will be performed using DNA and RNA extraction, which will analyze microbial genomes.

Time frame
Baseline (Week 1) and Post-intervention (Week 13)

Secondary outcomes

1

Change in Chemotherapy Toxicity

To evaluate changes in chemotherapy toxicity following a exercise intervention in survivors of young-onset CRC undergoing chemotherapy.

Time frame
12 weeks

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Lead sponsor

American Cancer Society, Inc.

Collaborator