Understanding Physical Activity and Cancer Survival

This study is looking at how physical activity (PA) levels in people with advanced cancer, including head and neck, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, relate to their overall health and how long they live. Researchers want to see if the activity levels measured by devices like accelerometers match what healthcare providers (HCPs) assess as a patient's ECOG Performance Status (a scale that measures how well a person can perform daily activities). You might participate in walking or strengthening programs and use devices like accelerometers, blood pressure monitors, and smartphones to track your health. The goal is to improve how we understand and use physical activity information for advanced cancer patients. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 590 participants. It is structured with different arms, where participants use various health monitoring devices.
What's involved
You would use devices like accelerometers, blood pressure monitors, and smartphones for 5 consecutive days, and then again for another 5 days after a two-week break. You might also participate in a walking or strengthening program.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for up to 7 months after their baseline assessment.

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NCT01365169

Association Between Health Care Provider (HCP)-Assessed ECOG Performance Status (PS) and Overall Survival, and Objectively Measure of Physical Activity (PA) Levels in Advance-cancer Patients"

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalHealth services
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
~590 participants
Updated 2026-07-15 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Exercise InterventionHealth TelemonitoringQuality-of-Life AssessmentQuestionnaire Administration

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Study completion (defined as completing the final assessment)
Measured over Up to 7 months after baseline
+2 more outcomes measured
Malignant Head and Neck Neoplasm
Malignant Neoplasm
Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Neck
Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Uterine Cervix
Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma
Recurrent Colorectal Carcinoma
Stage I Colorectal Cancer AJCC v6 and v7
Stage I Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Stage I Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7
Stage I Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Stage I Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v6 and v7
Stage I Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7
Stage II Colorectal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage II Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7
Stage II Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7
Stage II Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Stage II Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v6 and v7
Stage II Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7
Stage IIA Colorectal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IIB Colorectal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IIC Colorectal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage III Colorectal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage III Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Stage III Laryngeal Cancer AJCC v6 and v7
Stage III Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7
Stage III Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Stage III Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v6 and v7
Stage III Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Stage IIIA Colorectal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IIIB Colorectal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IIIC Colorectal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IV Colorectal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IVA Colorectal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IVA Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Stage IVA Laryngeal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IVA Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IVA Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Stage IVA Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v6 and v7
Stage IVA Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Stage IVB Colorectal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IVB Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Stage IVB Laryngeal Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IVB Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7
Stage IVB Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Stage IVB Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v6 and v7
Stage IVB Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v7
Metastatic or Locally Unresectable Solid Tumor
1 sites across 1 states
Texas1
  • Susan K Peterson · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Diagnosis of any stage I - IV colorectal cancer or recurrent colorectal cancer (Arm 1)
Able to speak, read, and write in English (Pre-pilot phase, Arms 1-4)
Able to provide informed consent (Pre-pilot phase, Arms 1-4, PCS study)
Lives in the Houston area (Harris county or a contiguous county) (Pre-pilot phase)
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status of 0 - 2, or self-reports being up and about more than 50% of waking hours and able to provide self-care (Arm 1)
Diagnosis of any of the following cancers: stage 1-4b oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, salivary gland or oral cavity; stage 3-4b laryngeal; any unknown primary head and neck cancer with cervical metastasis that will be addressed with treatment to bilateral necks and mucosa; or other head and neck cancers medically approved by one of our Radiation Oncology collaborating medical doctors (MDs) (Arms 2 and 3)
History of any cancer, other than non-melanoma skin cancer (Arm 4)
Admitted to being a current smoker or recent quitter upon admission to MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) (Arm 4)
Has a valid home address and functioning home telephone number (Arm 4)
Lives in the Houston or surrounding area, or resides in this same area during the time period that coincides with this study (Arms 1-4)
Patients who will undergo curative pancreatectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, or pancreatic cysts (malignant or benign) (PCS study)
Fluent in English (PCS study)
Must have telephone access and agree to engage with research personnel using telephone (PCS study)
Diagnosis of a metastatic or locally unresectable solid tumor (TAPS study)
Fluent in English (TAPS study)
Age 18 years or older (TAPS study)
ECOG performance status score between 0-3 (TAPS study)
Zubrod performance status \> 2, or self-reports either not being up and about more than 50% of waking hours or unable to provide self-care (Arms 2 and 3)
History of current oropharyngeal dysphagia unrelated to cancer diagnosis (e.g. dysphagia due to underlying neurogenic disorder) (Arm 3 only)
Active substance use disorder (diagnosed or strongly suspected) (Arm 4)
Currently enrolled in protocol 2014-0712 (PCS study)
No home access to internet (PCS study)
No home WiFi connection (PCS study)
During clinician's pre-surgical evaluation, presents with high risk for non-therapeutic resection related to cancer diagnosis (PCS study)
Underlying unstable cardiac or pulmonary disease or symptomatic cardiac disease (New York Heart Association functional class III or IV) (PCS study)
Recent fracture or acute musculoskeletal injury that precludes the ability to fully bear weight on all 4 limbs in order to participate in an exercise intervention (PCS study)
Poorly-controlled pain with a self-reported pain score of 7/10 at the time of enrollment (PCS study)
Myopathic or rheumatologic disease that impacts physical function (PCS study)
Has a pacemaker or other internal medical device, or reports being pregnant (PCS study)
Currently enrolled in protocol 2017-0198 (PCS study)
Demonstration of overt cognitive difficulty as demonstrated by not being clearly oriented to time or person or place (TAPS study)

Exclusion

Major surgery in the past 8 weeks (Arms 1 and 4)
Self-reports hypertension that is not being monitored by a physician and is not being managed with either medication, observation, or lifestyle change (Pre-pilot phase, Arms 1-3)
Overt cognitive difficulty demonstrated by not being clearly oriented to time or person or place (Arms 1-4)
Orthopedic, neurologic, or musculoskeletal disability that would interfere with the functional task of standing on a weight scale (Pre-pilot phase, Arm 2)
  • Study completion (defined as completing the final assessment)Up to 7 months after baseline
  • Physical Activity (PA) AssessmentUp to 7 days

    PA will be measured by two different devices, (1) a consumer-grade wrist-worn device that collects continuous PA data (Fitbit), and (2) a research-grade, hip-worn accelerometer (Actigraph)

  • ECOG Performance StatusUp to 2 weeks

    Eastern Cooperation Oncology Group (ECOG) is a 6-point performance status scale used to assess performance using PA as a key indicator (e.g., 0 = fully active, 2 = up and about more than 50% of walking hours, 5 = dead) Performance status will be assessed per usual clinical practice and will be recorded in the medical record.