Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2022

Physical activity patterns during immunotherapy for stage III and IV melanoma - trial in progress (#451)

Sarah Marvin 1 , Jasmine Yee 1 2 , Jia (Jenny) Liu 3 4 , Haryana Dhillon 2 , Kate Edwards 1 5
  1. Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  2. CeMPED, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  3. The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
  4. St Vincent's Clinical School, University of NSW, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
  5. Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

Background: Physical activity (PA) is associated with physical and psychological benefits for people with cancer. Exercise is also an important adjuvant to the immune system, inducing many immune-modulating effects which may improve efficacy of immunotherapy treatment. Studies among other cancer treatments show reductions in PA with increase in symptom burden and poorer quality of life as patients progress through treatment. However, the role of exercise has not been extensively studied in people with melanoma receiving immunotherapy, and little is known about their PA habits during treatment.

 

Aims: The study aims to quantify PA levels of individuals with advanced melanoma for 12-months following immunotherapy initiation.

 

Methods: We are conducting a longitudinal prospective cohort study, recruiting adults, ECOG 0-2 with Stage III (n=40) and IV (n=40) cutaneous melanoma commencing any immunotherapy protocol who have smartphone/tablet access. 

Participants will be followed for 12-months and receive immunotherapy as per standard care. Weekly step-counts and minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA will be retrieved from Fitbits worn continuously by participants for 3-months.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) (self-reported PA, fatigue, quality of life, sleep, and psychological distress) will be completed at the first four infusions, 3-months, 6-months, and 12-months. PA and fatigue will also be measured 1-week following the first four infusions. Motivation to exercise and clinical data (treatment-related toxicities, tumour response, adverse events, changes to treatment) will be collected every 3-months.

 

Progress: Ethical approval has been obtained, with recruitment anticipated to commence in early September 2022. Recruitment will occur at three Sydney metropolitan cancer centres.

 

Significance: Understanding the relationship between PA, PROMs and clinical data may reinforce the importance of PA for those receiving immunotherapy, whilst also suggesting mediating factors that influence the extent of PA. Findings will provide a framework for future research to inform targeted health promotion and intervention strategies to facilitate greater PA engagement.