Exercise and Immune Cell Collection for Blood Cancers

This study is exploring how exercise can help collect healthier immune cells from donors for people with blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. These donor cells are used in treatments like allogeneic cell therapy (where immune cells from a healthy donor are given to a cancer patient) to prevent or treat cancer relapse after a stem cell transplant. Researchers are testing if exercise, or certain medications like isoproterenol, Bisoprolol Fumarate, or Nadolol, can improve the quality of these immune cells. The study aims to make these therapies more effective and reduce side effects like graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), where donor cells attack the patient's healthy tissue. They will measure immune cell changes and how well these cells might fight cancer. This study is for healthy volunteers aged 21 to 55.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 200 healthy participants. It compares the effects of exercise, isoproterenol, Bisoprolol Fumarate, and Nadolol on immune cells.
What's involved
You would undergo an initial maximal exercise test, then participate in 20-minute graded exercise tests. You might also receive an intravenous infusion of isoproterenol or take Bisoprolol Fumarate or Nadolol tablets before exercise tests.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Immune cell changes and cell fighting ability will be measured immediately after interventions. Tumor burden and tumor-free survival will be measured for up to 120 days.

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NCT06643221

Exercise as an Immune Adjuvant for Allogeneic Cell Therapies

Recruiting
EARLY_PHASE1Ages 21–55InterventionalBasic science
University of Arizona
~200 participants
Updated 2026-06-05 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:ExerciseIsoproterenolPlaceboBisoprolol Fumarate Tablet 10 mgNadolol (1 x 80 mg) Tablets (Invamed, Inc)Carvedilol 50 mg

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Immune Cell Enumeration and Phenotyping
Measured over immediately after the intervention
+4 more outcomes measured
Leukemia
Hematopoetic Stem Cell Transplantation
Donor Lymphocyte Infusion
CAR T-Cell Therapy
Lymphoma
Cell Therapy
1 sites across 1 states
Arizona1

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Be between 21 and 55 years of age.
Be classified as 'low-risk' for graded exercise/stress testing according to ACSM-AHA criteria.
Have no contraindications for the use of isoproterenol, carvedilol, bisoprolol, nadolol, or roflumilast as per FDA guidelines.
Family History: Myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, or sudden death before 55 years of age in a father or male first-degree relative, or before 65 years of age in a mother or female first-degree relative.
Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mmHg.
Dyslipidemia: Total serum cholesterol exceeding 200 mg/dl.
Pre-diabetes: Fasting blood glucose levels between 100 mg/dl and 126 mg/dl.

Exclusion

Currently use tobacco products or have quit within the last 6 months.
Have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 34 kg/m² or waist circumference exceeding 102 cm for men and 88 cm for women.
Use any medications known to affect the immune system or regularly take ibuprofen/aspirin, antidepressants, or medications that alter blood pressure or cardiovascular function.
Use of hormone replacement therapy.
Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Have chronic or debilitating arthritis or have been bedridden in the past three months.
Experienced a common illness (e.g., colds) within the past 6 weeks.
Have central or peripheral nervous disorders, a history of stroke, or major affective disorder.
Are infected with HIV or hepatitis or have any autoimmune disease.
Have known cardiovascular disease or contraindications for the use of isoproterenol, carvedilol, bisoprolol, nadolol, or roflumilast.
Use any prescription medications or have an allergy to beta-blockers.
Have a resting heart rate of less than 50 beats per minute.
Suffer from asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, kidney disease, pheochromocytoma, diabetes, overactive thyroid, or a history of severe anaphylactic reactions.
Are scheduled for surgery.
  • Immune Cell Enumeration and Phenotypingimmediately after the intervention

    Whole blood samples will be analyzed for complete blood counts and to quantify lymphocyte and monocyte subtypes using flow cytometry and a comprehensive immunophenotyping panel. This panel is designed to identify major immune cell populations, as well as markers related to differentiation, exhaustion, migration, activation, and inhibition. Specific cell types expressing a surface protein, or combinations of surface proteins, will be reported as the percentage of cells positive for expression and/or by mean fluorescent intensity (MFI). For descriptive purposes, the cell counts of all major lymphocyte and monocyte subtypes will be expressed as cells per microliter (cells/µL) of whole blood. Additionally, isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and expanded cell products will be quantified and phenotyped in a similar manner.

  • Cytolysis in vitroimmediately after the intervention

    We will assess whether lymphocytes collected during or after exercise, as well as cell products manufactured from these lymphocytes, are more effective at killing hematologic cancer target cells. Using in vitro assays, such as flow cytometry and bioluminescence-based assays, we will compare the cytolytic activity of both the collected lymphocytes and the manufactured cell products to those obtained under resting conditions. Results will be measured as the time required to achieve 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% cytolysis, or as the percentage of target cells killed at specific time points (e.g., 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours). We will also evaluate the impact of combination therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies targeting the tumor model, as appropriate.

  • Tumor Burden and Tumor Free Survivalup to 120-days

    Tumor burden will be evaluated in immunocompromised mice engrafted with human tumors by measuring the size, number, and progression of tumors using imaging techniques such as bioluminescence, MRI, or CT scans, along with physical measurements where applicable. Overall tumor burden will be assessed through metrics like peak tumor size and photon intensity in bioluminescence imaging. Tumor-free survival will be defined as the time from treatment until either the recurrence of detectable tumors or the last follow-up without tumor recurrence. Data will be reported as overall tumor reduction (e.g., percentage decrease in tumor size or number), peak tumor burden, and photon intensity, as well as the duration of tumor-free survival in days. Additional analyses will explore the effects of treatment on delaying tumor progression and improving overall survival.

  • Clinical xGvHD Scoreup to 120-days

    The development of xGvHD (xenogeneic graft-versus-host disease) will be assessed using a clinical scoring system with a possible aggregate score ranging from 0 to 10. Animals will be monitored regularly, and a total score of 5 or higher on two consecutive assessment days will indicate the presence of moderate xGvHD. This scoring system allows for the systematic evaluation of disease severity and progression in response to treatment.

  • Survivalup to 120 days

    Survival will be monitored as a critical endpoint in this study. Death will be recorded when any of the following criteria are met: (1) the animal experiences greater than 20% weight loss compared to its baseline weight at two consecutive weigh-ins, indicating significant deterioration in health; or (2) the animal exhibits signs of severe morbidity, characterized by an xGvHD score exceeding 7. These criteria ensure that any adverse effects related to treatment or disease progression are accurately captured, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of the survival outcomes in the context of xGvHD.