Overview
- A multicenter phase III trial found a 6-week, home-based EXCAP program (walking plus resistance bands) reduced overall cognitive impairment and mental fatigue versus usual care, with benefits limited to patients on two-week chemotherapy cycles.
- The study randomized 687 patients across 20 URCC NCORP community sites, using teach-back instruction, pedometer step tracking, and daily logs to support adherence.
- Improvements in cognition were associated with a healthier balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and higher exercise volume correlated with greater benefit.
- Participants assigned to EXCAP maintained daily walking during chemotherapy, whereas those in usual care reduced walking by about 53%.
- Investigators recommend integrating tailored, home-based exercise into routine chemotherapy care while noting limited generalizability due to a largely non-metastatic, mostly female cohort enrolled between 2009 and 2014.