Trial Outcomes & Findings for Physical Activity and Dexamethasone in Reducing Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With Advanced Cancer (NCT NCT02491632)

NCT ID: NCT02491632

Last Updated: 2025-10-28

Results Overview

FACIT-F (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue) subscale is a 13 item subscale of FACT-G that allows patient to rate the intensity of their fatigue and its related symptoms on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 4 (very much). The total calculated score varied from 0-52 with a lower score indicating a more severe fatigue level. We measured the change in FACIT-F levels between Baseline and Day 8, and between Baseline and Day 29 using Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Recruitment status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Study phase

PHASE2/PHASE3

Target enrollment

90 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline, day 8, day 29

Results posted on

2025-10-28

Participant Flow

Patients were recruited from MD Anderson Cancer Center outpatients clinic for supportive are who has a diagnosis of advanced cancer with average intensity of fatigue of \>=4/10 on the ESAS scale in the previous 24 hours and presence of fatigue for at least 2 weeks.

A total of 90 patients were enrolled for this study. Of them 7 withdrew their consent, Doctor did not allow Dexamethasone for 3 cases, 2 had disease progression, and for 2 cases, their oncologist did not approve it. Thus a total of 76 participants were randomized.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Physical Exercise + Low Dose Dexamethasone
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 4mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Physical Exercise + High Dose Dexamethasone
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 8mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Overall Study
STARTED
38
38
Overall Study
COMPLETED
31
29
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
7
9

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Physical Activity and Dexamethasone in Reducing Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With Advanced Cancer

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Physical Exercise + Low Dose Dexamethasone
n=31 Participants
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 4mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Physical Exercise + High Dose Dexamethasone
n=29 Participants
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 8mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Total
n=60 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
60 years
n=5 Participants
58 years
n=7 Participants
60 years
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
16 Participants
n=5 Participants
15 Participants
n=7 Participants
31 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
15 Participants
n=5 Participants
14 Participants
n=7 Participants
29 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
28 Participants
n=5 Participants
26 Participants
n=7 Participants
54 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
28 Participants
n=5 Participants
27 Participants
n=7 Participants
55 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
31 participants
n=5 Participants
29 participants
n=7 Participants
60 participants
n=5 Participants
Cancer Diagnosis
Breast
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
7 Participants
n=7 Participants
14 Participants
n=5 Participants
Cancer Diagnosis
Lung
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
Cancer Diagnosis
Gastrointestinal
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
14 Participants
n=5 Participants
Cancer Diagnosis
Genitourinary
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
6 Participants
n=7 Participants
14 Participants
n=5 Participants
Cancer Diagnosis
Other
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
8 Participants
n=7 Participants
11 Participants
n=5 Participants
Assessment
Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) Fatigue Score
6 units on a scale
n=5 Participants
6 units on a scale
n=7 Participants
6 units on a scale
n=5 Participants
Assessment
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Anxiety
4 units on a scale
n=5 Participants
5 units on a scale
n=7 Participants
5 units on a scale
n=5 Participants
Assessment
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Depression
6 units on a scale
n=5 Participants
7 units on a scale
n=7 Participants
6 units on a scale
n=5 Participants
Assessment
Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue (FACIT-F) subscale
23 units on a scale
n=5 Participants
20 units on a scale
n=7 Participants
21 units on a scale
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, day 8, day 29

Population: Participants who completed the intervention.

FACIT-F (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue) subscale is a 13 item subscale of FACT-G that allows patient to rate the intensity of their fatigue and its related symptoms on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 4 (very much). The total calculated score varied from 0-52 with a lower score indicating a more severe fatigue level. We measured the change in FACIT-F levels between Baseline and Day 8, and between Baseline and Day 29 using Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Physical Exercise + Low Dose Dexamethasone
n=31 Participants
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 4mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Physical Exercise + High Dose Dexamethasone
n=29 Participants
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 8mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Change in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) Levels at Day 8 and Day 29
Change between Baseline and Day 8
9 score on a scale
Interval 3.0 to 19.0
8 score on a scale
Interval 3.0 to 18.0
Change in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) Levels at Day 8 and Day 29
Change between Baseline and Day 29
10 score on a scale
Interval 4.0 to 16.0
12 score on a scale
Interval 7.0 to 20.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, day 8, day 29

Population: Participants who completed the intervention.

The PROMIS-F (Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System-Fatigue) short form was used to measure the experience of fatigue in patients' daily activities over the past week. It consists of 7 items with response options on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always). We measured the change in PROMIS-F score between Baseline and Day 8, and between Baseline and Day 29 using Wilcoxon signed rank test. The total score is used in the analysis and is obtained by summing keyed scores of all items. Scores can range from 7 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Physical Exercise + Low Dose Dexamethasone
n=31 Participants
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 4mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Physical Exercise + High Dose Dexamethasone
n=29 Participants
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 8mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Change in Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System-Fatigue (PROMIS-F) Total
Change between Baseline and Day 8
-3 units on a scale
Interval -8.0 to 0.0
-4 units on a scale
Interval -8.0 to 0.0
Change in Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System-Fatigue (PROMIS-F) Total
Change between Baseline and Day 29
-9 units on a scale
Interval -20.0 to 0.0
-7 units on a scale
Interval -9.0 to -1.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, day 8, day 29

Population: Participants who completed the intervention.

ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale) is a validated scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 10 (very much) used to assess 10 symptoms commonly experienced by cancer patients during the previous 24 hours: pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, dyspnea, anorexia, sleep and feeling of wellbeing. We measured the change in ESAS fatigue score between Baseline and Day 8, and between Baseline and Day 29 using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Total ESAS fatigue score ranges from 0-10, with a higher score indicating higher fatigue.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Physical Exercise + Low Dose Dexamethasone
n=31 Participants
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 4mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Physical Exercise + High Dose Dexamethasone
n=29 Participants
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 8mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Change in Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) Fatigue
Change between Baseline and Day 8
-1.5 score on a scale
Interval -3.0 to 0.0
-2 score on a scale
Interval -3.0 to 0.0
Change in Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) Fatigue
Change between Baseline and Day 29
-1.5 score on a scale
Interval -5.0 to 0.0
-3 score on a scale
Interval -4.0 to -1.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, day 8, day 29

Population: Participants who completed the intervention.

The MFSI-SF is a 30-item scale used to assess the multidimensional nature of fatigue. Responses are selected using a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely fatigue). It consists of 5 subscales: general fatigue, physical fatigue, emotional fatigue, mental fatigue and vigor. The MFSI-SF total score is the sum of the general fatigue, physical fatigue, emotional fatigue and mental fatigue subscale score and subtracting vigor subscale score. Thus MFSI-SF total score ranges from 24-96, with a higher score indicating a higher fatigue level. We measured the change in MFSI-SF total score between Baseline and Day 8, and between Baseline and Day 29 using Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Physical Exercise + Low Dose Dexamethasone
n=31 Participants
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 4mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Physical Exercise + High Dose Dexamethasone
n=29 Participants
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 8mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Change in Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI_SF) Total Score
Change between Baseline and Day 29
-6 score on a scale
Interval -10.0 to -1.0
-4.5 score on a scale
Interval -15.5 to 6.5
Change in Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI_SF) Total Score
Change between Baseline and Day 8
-9 score on a scale
Interval -16.0 to -3.0
-5 score on a scale
Interval -16.0 to 3.0

Adverse Events

Physical Exercise + Low Dose Dexamethasone

Serious events: 5 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Physical Exercise + High Dose Dexamethasone

Serious events: 4 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 1 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Physical Exercise + Low Dose Dexamethasone
n=31 participants at risk
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 4mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Physical Exercise + High Dose Dexamethasone
n=29 participants at risk
Received stabdardizex Physical activity for 4 weeks and 8mg of Dexamethasone orally twice daily for 7 days
Eye disorders
Eye Infection
0.00%
0/31 • Baseline up to Day 29
3.4%
1/29 • Baseline up to Day 29
General disorders
Fatigue
3.2%
1/31 • Baseline up to Day 29
0.00%
0/29 • Baseline up to Day 29
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Flank pain
0.00%
0/31 • Baseline up to Day 29
3.4%
1/29 • Baseline up to Day 29
Renal and urinary disorders
Hematuria
0.00%
0/31 • Baseline up to Day 29
3.4%
1/29 • Baseline up to Day 29
Psychiatric disorders
Insomnia
6.5%
2/31 • Baseline up to Day 29
0.00%
0/29 • Baseline up to Day 29
Infections and infestations
Kidney Infection
3.2%
1/31 • Baseline up to Day 29
3.4%
1/29 • Baseline up to Day 29
Cardiac disorders
Sinus Tachycardia
3.2%
1/31 • Baseline up to Day 29
0.00%
0/29 • Baseline up to Day 29
Vascular disorders
Thromboembolic Event
3.2%
1/31 • Baseline up to Day 29
0.00%
0/29 • Baseline up to Day 29

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Sriram Yennu,MD- Professor, Palliative Care Med

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Phone: (713) 792-3938

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place