Precision-exercise-prescription for Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Surgery: The PEP Study (PEP)

May 13, 2026 updated by: University of Utah

A Phase III Randomized Study Comparing the Effects of a Personalized Exercise Program (PEP) Against No Intervention in Patients With Stage I-IIIa Primary Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer or Secondary Lung Cancer Undergoing Surgical Resection

This is a Phase 3 study aimed at investigating the effects of a personalized exercise program (PEP) in NSCLC patients (stage I, II, IIIa) and secondary lung cancer patients undergoing surgical treatment at the University of Utah and comparing the intervention to the current standard of care (no exercise program).

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This is a Phase 3 study aimed at investigating the effects of a personalized exercise program (PEP) in NSCLC patients (stage I, II, IIIa) and secondary lung cancer patients undergoing surgical treatment at the University of Utah and comparing the intervention to the current standard of care (no exercise program).

Eligible patients will be randomized between two arms (1:1 ratio) prior to the surgery and will be followed for approximately 6 months post-surgery:

  • An Intervention Arm (referred to in materials as Group 1) which features pre- and post-surgery PEP interventions.
  • A Control Arm (referred to in materials as Group 2) which does not include a personalized exercise program (the standard of care). Patients randomized to the Control Arm will be given the opportunity to participate in a PEP-intervention session providing exercise counseling after the 6 month assessment and will receive a free activity tracker for their participation.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
182

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Utah
      • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84112
        • Huntsman Cancer Institute

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or female subject aged ≥ 18 years.
  • Suspected (per the treating physician) diagnosis of primary lung cancer stage I, II, or IIIa OR secondary lung cancer.
  • Disease amenable to surgical resection in the opinion of the treating surgeon.
  • Patients must be able to follow directions and complete questionnaires and exercise diaries in English.
  • Patients must agree to be randomly assigned to either Intervention or Control Group.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Deemed ineligible for surgery by the enrolling physician
  • Abnormalities on screening physical exam judged by study physicians or supervising physical therapist to contraindicate participation in exercise program compliance.
  • Alcohol or drug abuse as judged by study physicians.
  • Significant mental or emotional problems that would interfere with study participation will be assessed by the NCCN Distress Thermometer. Any value higher than 7 will trigger further intervention, but ultimately enrollment into the clinical trial will be determined by the enrolling physician.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Personalized Exercise Program
Behavioral: Personalized Exercise Program

The PEP intervention involves a combination of home-based exercise as well as in-patient exercise. The exercise modes will include basic transfer and calisthenics mobility, aerobic and resistance exercises and will be performed in various postures (supine, sitting, standing and walking) with variable challenges (level walking, bending, inclines, steps and squatting).

For patients randomized to the Intervention Group (Group 1), the PEP intervention will be personalized, implemented, and modified (based on the patients AM-PAC mobility stage) by a licensed physical therapist in face-to-face, virtual, or phone meetings (~30-40 minutes). An exercise education manual, specifically developed for this study, will be used by the physical therapist to educate the patients on all aspects of starting and maintaining the exercise intervention.
No Intervention: Standard of Care - No Exercise

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mobility Performance - Six Minute Walk (6MW) Distance
Time Frame: Hospital Discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study therapy), 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months after the initiation of the study therapy), and 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months after the initiation of study therapy)
Six Minute Walk (6MW) distance is the distance patients can walk indoors on a 25-meter level, smooth-surfaced track over the course of 6 minutes. This outcome will report the mean 6MW distance at hospital discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study intervention), at the 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months from the initiation of the study intervention), and at the 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months from the initiation of the study intervention).
Hospital Discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study therapy), 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months after the initiation of the study therapy), and 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months after the initiation of study therapy)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Evaluate the Change Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) Score
Time Frame: Hospital Discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study therapy), 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months after the initiation of the study therapy), and 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months after the initiation of study therapy)

This outcome will report the results from the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).

This secondary outcome measure is associated with the evaluation of improvement in physical performance is the result of the short physical performance battery test. The SPPB score (ranging from 0 to 12) will be obtained for each patient at the time points described above. A score of 0 indicates the worst performance, and a score of 12 indicates the best performance.

This outcome will report median SPPB scores at hospital discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study intervention), at the 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months from the initiation of the study intervention), and at the 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months from the initiation of the study intervention).
Hospital Discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study therapy), 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months after the initiation of the study therapy), and 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months after the initiation of study therapy)
FACT-L (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung) Questionnaire
Time Frame: Hospital Discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study therapy), 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months after the initiation of the study therapy), and 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months after the initiation of the study therapy)

The FACT-L (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung) questionnaire assesses health-related quality of life (QOL). Total scores range from 0-136, with lower scores representing worse QOL and higher scores representing better QOL.

This outcome measure will report mean FACT-L total scores at Hospital Discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study therapy), 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months after the initiation of the study therapy), and 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months after the initiation of the study therapy).
Hospital Discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study therapy), 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months after the initiation of the study therapy), and 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months after the initiation of the study therapy)
Fatigue Subscale (FS)
Time Frame: Hospital Discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study therapy), 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months after the initiation of the study therapy), and 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months after the initiation of study therapy)

This outcome will report the results of the Fatigue Subscale (FS) from the FACIT-F (Chronic Illness Fatigue Scale) questionnaire. The FACIT-F is a self-reported evaluation of fatigue in cancer patients. This questionnaire has patients rank statements regarding physical well-being, social/family well-being, emotional well-being, functional well-being, and additional concerns from 0 Not at All to 4 Very Much.

This outcome will report the FS score from the FACIT-F. The FS has a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 52; the higher the score the better the Quality of Life (QOL). The FS Score is calculated from 13 survey items. Individual items that were "reverse items" (meaning a high value indicates poor QOL) were subtracted from 4. Then all "reverse items" and normal items were added together to calculate the FS score.

This assessment was scored according to the FACIT-F Scoring Guidelines (Version 4).
Hospital Discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study therapy), 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months after the initiation of the study therapy), and 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months after the initiation of study therapy)
BREQ-3 (Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 3) Questionnaire
Time Frame: Hospital Discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study therapy), 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months after the initiation of the study therapy), and 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months after the initiation of study therapy)

This outcome will report the results of the BREQ-3. The questionnaire has 24 items, each item ranging from 0 "Not True for Me" to 4 "Very True for Me".

This questionnaire will report 6 sub-scores, Amotivation, External Regulation, Introjected Regulation, Identified Regulation, Integrated Regulation, Intrinsic Regulation.

Each sub score is a the average of 4 items, ranging from 0-4 with higher values indicating higher motivation.
Hospital Discharge (up to 38 days after the initiation of the study therapy), 2-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 5 months after the initiation of the study therapy), and 6-Month Post Surgery Visit (up to 9 months after the initiation of study therapy)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Utah

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 7, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 31, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 29, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 5, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 11, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 13, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • HCI104671
  • 5R01CA211705-05 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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