# Exercise for Sarcopenia in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients

> **NIH NIH F32** · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR · 2020 · $69,426

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is a curative yet rigorous treatment for patients with hematologic
malignancies. During the first two years post-HSCT, treatment-related complications such as primary disease
relapse, graft-versus-host-disease, and HSCT therapy-related cardio- and musculoskeletal-toxicity contribute
to an estimated 60-70% survival rate. Side effects and complications caused by HSCT carry late-effects that
negatively impact patients' functional capacity and psychological well-being. As a result, HSCT recipients are
at risk of developing co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis. Due to the
increased HSCT symptom burden, HSCT recipients report a 58% decrease in physical activity levels which
further perpetuates the loss of skeletal muscle mass, bone density loss, and decreased functional capacity.
Exercise has been employed as a successful rehabilitative strategy in HSCT recipients to recuperate losses in
skeletal muscle mass, muscular strength and aerobic capacity while concomitantly improving health-related
quality of life. While rehabilitative exercises are effective, they do not address the role of preventing physical
and mental declines. Prehabilitation, defined as exercise training prior to the start of a medical therapy, has
been documented to be valuable in the setting of colorectal and lung cancer patients to positively alter patients'
recovery trajectory. Despite the benefits of prehabilitation in other cancer entities, there is a paucity of evidence
that investigates the effects of exercise prior to receiving HSCT. The IMPROVE-BMT trial addresses this
knowledge gap, with a primary focus on monitoring and reporting objective functional status until 100 days
post-transplant. I will take advantage of this planned clinical trial (NCT03886909) to quantify and describe the
effects of a combined resistance and aerobic exercise prehabilitation program on skeletal muscle mass, body
composition, and bone density for patients receiving a HSCT. To achieve this aim we will conduct a dual-
energy x-ray absorptiometry scan at baseline and 100 days post-HSCT. Through this research experience and
proposed post-doctoral fellowship, I will learn about the conduct of high quality human clinical trials, clinical
exercise prescription for HSCT patients, and will receive training in conduct and interpretation of body
composition measurements.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9910828
- **Project number:** 1F32CA247263-01
- **Recipient organization:** PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Melanie Potiaumpai
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $69,426
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9910828

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9910828, Exercise for Sarcopenia in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients (1F32CA247263-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9910828. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*