Counting Steps! Integration of Objectively Assessed Physical Activity and Fitness With Smartphones in Clinical Oncology Practice.

NCT03493672 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2017.479
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 135
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Rationale: Optimal selection of patients with cancer eligible for a clinical trial, is of utmost importance, but can be very difficult. Patients must be sufficiently fit and have a reasonable life expectancy, to be eligible for participation in clinical trials. In current clinical practice, the ECOG/WHO performance status, is used to select patients for clinical trials, and it has proven to be an independent predictor of survival in patients with cancer. This score is based on a subjective assessment of the treating physician, which can, together with the strong motivation of some patients to participate, lead to overestimation of a patient's actual physical condition and may thereby contribute to early trial discontinuation. Participation of these patients may not only harm them, but will also hamper trial conduct and outcomes. Both, physical activity and fitness are positively associated with survival in patients with cancer. This gives rise to the investigators hypothesis that objective measurements can be of added value in the selection process. Additionally, preliminary results in 50 patients with cancer that participated in part 1 of the "Counting Steps!" project revealed that the smartphone can produce valid and reliable assessments of physical activity and fitness, and the user friendliness was rated "good" by patients. The investigators hypothesize that measurements of physical activity and fitness with smartphones will provide more objective and accurate information about the actual physical condition of a patient with cancer. With a better prediction of trial feasibility (without early trial discontinuation) and overall survival in patients participating in phase I-II clinical trials, the selection of eligible trial participants could be improved. In this way, it is possible to more adequately identify patients who are most likely to successfully participate in a clinical trial and thereby have the highest chance to benefit from trial participation. Successful trial participation will provide optimal palliative care to patients and improve their quality of life. In addition, it may prohibit participation of patients who are currently incorrectly included in clinical trials and suffer from toxic therapies without having a chance to benefit from treatment. A better selection of patients will be beneficial for the trial outcomes and subsequently for the development of new anticancer drugs or treatment regimens. Objective: The investigators aim to:

1. 1.Identify whether objective smartphone measurements of physical activity and fitness is predictive for trial feasibility (without early trial discontinuation) in patients with cancer participating in phase I-II clinical trials.
2. 2.Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the use of the smartphone's objective assessments of physical activity and fitness in clinical practice.
3. 3.135 patients with hematologic or solid cancer referred to the VU medical center for participation in phase I-II clinical trials. Intervention: In this observational study, patients will not receive an additional intervention. Main study parameters/endpoints: Prior to the start of medical treatment, physicians will rate the performance status, and participants will wear a smartphone for one week to measure the daily number of steps, to complete the 6 minute walk test using the smartphone application, and to fill out the 5-item physical function subscale of the EORTC QLQ-C30. These assessments will be repeated after 4 and 8 weeks. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: No extra visits to the hospital will be necessary. Participation in this study will not cause any additional risks or expected benefits for participants. It will only deliver knowledge, which may be used in the future to better select patients eligible for participation in phase I-II clinical trials or even for regular treatment. Participation in the study will only cost time for patients. The patients will be asked to wear a smartphone for a week, have to perform a six-minute walk test (6MWT) once in this week and have to complete a questionnaire about their own physical function once. Subsequently, patients will repeat those measurements 4 and 8 weeks after inclusion in the phase I-II clinical trial.

Conditions

Neoplasms

Keywords

Phase I clinical trial; Phase II clinical trial; Early trial discontinuation; Objective smartphone measurements; Physical activity; Physical fitness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Early trial discontinuation

  Early trial discontinuation is defined as discontinuation of trial in the first two months after inclusion, dichotomized into yes or no

  2 months

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Overall survival

  1 year

• Progression free survival

  1 year

Interventions

Objective measurement of physical activity and fitness DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Physical activity and fitness will be assessed objectively with a smartphone

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All patients with advanced cancer referred to the outpatient department of Medical Oncology and Hematology of the VU medical center, for treatment in a phase I/II clinical trial

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of advanced cancer, referred for treatment in phase I/II clinical trial
• Written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Already started treatment in phase I/II clinical trial
• Inability to understand the Dutch language
• Cognitive disorders or severe emotional instability
• Reasons why mobilizing is impossible, like fracture, paraplegia etc.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc: lead

Study Sites (1)

VU Medical Center

Amsterdam, NL-1081 HV, Netherlands

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Henk MW Verheul, MD, PhD

  Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: MD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 3, 2018
• First Posted: April 10, 2018
• Study Start: October 18, 2017
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2020
• Study Completion: February 1, 2020
• Last Updated: November 18, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-11

Locations

NL (1)