Trial Information

A Pilot Exercise RCT for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) Patients Undergoing Induction Chemotherapy: Pre-randomization Phase

Background: Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a life-threatening haematological malignancy.
Initial treatment with induction chemotherapy requires 4-5 weeks of hospitalization, with a
risk of physical deconditioning, declines in quality of life (QOL), and significant fatigue.
Four pilot exercise studies have demonstrated improved fitness, strength, QOL, and fatigue
in patients undergoing induction, but are limited by small sample sizes, recruitment of
mostly younger adults, inconsistent endpoints, and design issues. Prior to conducting a
large multi-centre randomized controlled trial (RCT), important pilot work first needs to be
done to demonstrate feasibility of a randomized trial of an exercise program in AML patients
undergoing induction chemotherapy; to ensure safety; and to provide effect estimates of the
intervention on fitness and QOL/fatigue endpoints.

Objectives: Primary objectives are: (1) to determine feasibility of recruitment and
retention of adult AML patients to a randomized trial of supervised exercise and ability of
patients to perform an exercise intervention in hospital; (2) to provide estimates of the
effect of exercise on fitness parameters. Secondary objectives are: (1) to determine
effects of exercise on QOL and fatigue; (2) to understand the impact of exercise on AML
treatment tolerability; (3) to examine safety of the exercise intervention. Methods:
Thirty-five patients age 18 or older with newly diagnosed or relapsed AML who are undergoing
induction chemotherapy will be recruited at Princess Margaret Hospital. Participants will
perform 30-45 minutes of supervised aerobic and resistance exercises 4-5 days per week.
Primary outcomes are recruitment rate, exercise adherence rate, and impact on fitness
measures (peak aerobic capacity (VO2peak), grip strength, leg strength, 6-minute walk test).
QOL will be measured with the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of
Cancer (EORTC) core 30-item questionnaire (QLQ-C30). Fatigue will be measured using the
Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy fatigue subscale (FACT-Fatigue). Treatment
tolerability outcomes include length of stay, intensive care unit admission, and the
development of sepsis. Outcomes over time will be assessed using mixed effects regression
models.

Significance: Exercise is a promising intervention for improving fitness, QOL and treatment
tolerability in AML patients undergoing induction chemotherapy. This pilot RCT will
establish feasibility and safety, as well as provide efficacy estimates that will be vital
to the design and conduct of a definitive multi-centre RCT of exercise in this patient
population.