# Prehabilitation Exercise Training in Multiple Myeloma Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

> **NIH NIH F31** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · 2024 · $38,648

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Multiple myeloma is the second most prevalent hematologic malignancy in the US with an estimated 7.1 cases
per 100,000. Patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma have improved survival with autologous stem cell
transplant (ASCT), however high symptom burden, including reduced muscle strength, is still highly prevalent
and results in worsened clinical outcomes due to progressive age-related comorbidities and frailty. Despite
advances in ACST, there are limited non-pharmacologic prehabilitative intervention strategies to augment
physical fitness through improved muscular strength and minimize the risk of unfavorable clinical outcomes.
Prehabilitation exercise-based programs do not exist in the current standard of care for ASCT in multiple
myeloma. Developing supportive individualized care interventions that target maximizing functional status would
be of great benefit to patients with multiple myeloma whose extended survival is heavily impacted by the chronic
burden of their cancer therapies.
The objectives of the proposed research sub-analysis of the ongoing PROTECT trial, designed with the primary
goal of assessing feasibility of exercise, are to examine the effects of an 8-week home-based, virtually supervised
prehabilitative exercise intervention on (1) muscle strength, (2) patient health outcomes including physical
capacity, patient reported outcomes, and cardiometabolic health outcomes, and (3) clinical outcomes in 30
patients with multiple myeloma undergoing ASCT being treated at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Our central
hypothesis is that muscle strength will be improved over the course of an 8-week prehabilitative exercise training
program in patients with multiple myeloma. We also hypothesize that exercise will improve patient health
outcomes and clinical outcomes. The impact of the proposed research lies in providing an effective pre-transplant
intervention that can improve muscle strength, patient health outcomes and postoperative clinical outcomes in
patients with multiple myeloma receiving ASCT. This sub-analysis will establish foundational knowledge to
conduct a larger-phase clinical trial to test clinical benefits of prehabilitation exercise in patients with multiple
myeloma undergoing ASCT.
The proposed F31 training fellowship aims to leverage my background in biology and exercise physiology for
investigating the effects of an exercise intervention in multiple myeloma patients. Through this fellowship, I aspire
to align my research efforts with my long-term career goal of becoming an independent clinical researcher
specializing in exercise physiology and cancer prevention/survivorship. The dedicated time and support will
establish strong mentorship and facilitate the acquisition of essential skills and knowledge necessary to make
significant contributions to the field of exercise oncology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10898403
- **Project number:** 1F31CA290730-01
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS)
- **Principal Investigator:** Amber Normann
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $38,648
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10898403

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10898403, Prehabilitation Exercise Training in Multiple Myeloma Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (1F31CA290730-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10898403. Licensed CC0.

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