# Improving Exercise Capacity with a Tailored Physical Activity Intervention in Lymphoma Patients Undergoing Treatment

> **NIH NIH R33** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $337,482

## Abstract

Cardiovascular (CV) events related to the receipt of potentially cardiotoxic anthracycline-based chemotherapy
(Anth-bC), are emerging as leading causes of morbidity and mortality for survivors of lymphoma (the 5th
most common cancer in North America). The objective of our proposal is to reduce this cancer treatment
related CV morbidity by developing, enabling, and testing a physical activity intervention that commences and
continues throughout receipt of Anth-bC for the purpose of attenuating physical inactivity, preserving exercise
capacity, CV & cognitive function, strength, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for those with lymphoma.
The need for and the design of this program is based in part on feedback from lymphoma survivor focus
groups treated in our NIH funded Comprehensive Cancer Center - preliminary pilot data (Section 3.C.1).
Several novel features of this proposal include:
1) Performance of physical activity during receipt of cancer treatment where exercise intolerance originates.
2) Creation of patient communities that enable cancer patients to support one another during treatment.
3) Administration of aerobic & strength activities suited to one's individual lifestyle in the home guided by
 instruction provided from 4 close to home cardiac rehabilitation facilities experienced in exercising
 immunocompromised individuals and those with other pre-existing activity limitations due to cancer.
4) Utilization of newly developed magnetic resonance cardiopulmonary exercise treadmill testing methods to
 measure the two components (cardiac function and peripheral factors) that contribute to peak VO2 (a
 measure of maximal exercise capacity). This new information will provide mechanistic insight into how
 physical activity helps preserve exercise capacity and reduce fatigue.
5) Assessment of the relationships between cognitive function, activity, and exercise capacity thereby helping
 to unravel the association between physical activity, HRQOL and cognitive function in cancer patients.
In this application, we propose to refine the physical activity intervention during the R21 Phase in patients who
participate in the intervention for 6 months. If suitable milestones are achieved, we will conduct a randomized
clinical trial in the R33 Phase to test the utility of the integrated physical activity intervention for sustaining peak
V02, 6-min walk distance, cardiac and cognitive function, strength, activity, and HRQOL.
If we achieve our study goals, this proposed intervention could reduce CV mortality and heart failure related
hospital admissions, translate into clinical practice via extension through cardiac rehabilitation centers (often
located close to cancer centers), increase health-related quality of life, reduce fatigue to perform activities of
daily living, and attenuate cognitive function decline in lymphoma survivors. The results of this study could help
to change existing sedentary behavior paradigms during receipt of chemotherapy...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10908348
- **Project number:** 5R33CA226960-05
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** William Gregory Hundley
- **Activity code:** R33 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $337,482
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-12-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10908348

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10908348, Improving Exercise Capacity with a Tailored Physical Activity Intervention in Lymphoma Patients Undergoing Treatment (5R33CA226960-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10908348. Licensed CC0.

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