A Phase I Study Examining the Feasibility and Safety of an Aerobic Exercise Intervention in Patients With Rectal Cancer During and After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To assess the feasibility and safety of an aerobic exercise intervention in patients with rectal cancer during and after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT). . DESIGN A prospective, single-group design with assessments at pre-NACRT, post-NACRT, and presurgery. . SETTING The Cross Cancer Institute and University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. . SAMPLE 18 patients with rectal cancer scheduled to receive long-course NACRT followed by definitive surgery. . METHODS Participants received a supervised moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program three days per week during six weeks of NACRT followed by an unsupervised aerobic exercise program for 150 minutes or more per week for 6-8 weeks prior to surgery. . MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Eligibility rate, recruitment rate, follow-up rate, exercise adherence, serious adverse events, health-related fitness outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes. . FINDINGS Follow-up rates post-NACRT were 83% for health-related fitness outcomes and 94% for patient-reported outcomes. Patients attended a median of 83% of their supervised exercise sessions and completed a mean of 222 minutes per week (SD = 155) of their unsupervised exercise. No serious adverse events were observed or reported. Most health-related fitness outcomes and patient-reported outcomes declined during NACRT and recovered after NACRT. . CONCLUSIONS Aerobic exercise is feasible and safe for patients with rectal cancer during and after NACRT. . IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Patients with rectal cancer are able to engage in moderate-intensity aerobic exercise during NACRT.