Precise Exercise Regimen for Cancer Care (PERCC): A Pilot Study (PERCC)

February 9, 2026 updated by: Christina Dieli-Conwright, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of the Precise Exercise Regimen for Cancer Care (PERCC) exercise program in participants with stage II-III primary lung cancer.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This research study is a feasibility pilot study and to test the feasibility of the Precise Exercise Regimen for Cancer Care (PERCC) exercise program in participants with stage II-III primary lung cancer.

The research study procedures include screening for eligibility including evaluations of fitness and physical health, surveys, and study entry visits.

Participation in the study is expected to be about 24 weeks.

It is expected that about 20 people will take part in this research study

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

20

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥18 years at time of diagnosis; due to the rarity of the disease in those <18 years, this age bracket will not be included.
  • Histologically diagnosed with stage II or III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has not started lung cancer treatment.
  • Patient's treatment plan is to receive neoadjuvant therapy (defined as chemotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, or chemotherapy and radiation therapy) followed by surgical treatment. Patients will be enrolled at least three weeks prior to receiving their first neoadjuvant treatment.
  • Ability to follow directions and complete questionnaires in English and/or Spanish.
  • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document prior to any study-related procedures.
  • Willing to travel to DFCI for necessary data collection.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who are morbidly obese (BMI>40 kg/m2) or Anorexic (BMI<17 kg/m2).
  • Unstable comorbidities that contraindicate participation in exercise program compliance. Patients with unstable comorbidities may develop unexpected adverse events from exercise. For the purpose of patients' safety, as well as because part of this study involves remote, home-based exercise where close supervision is not possible, patients with unstable medical conditions are excluded. Study staff will identify untreated or unmanaged conditions when screening and treating MDs must provide clearance prior to patient enrollment.
  • Patients with alcohol or drug abuse, significant mental or emotional problems that would interfere with compliance (assessed by NCCN Distress Thermometer).
  • Patients scheduled to receive single modality cancer treatment (unimodal therapy), scheduled surgery within 2 weeks of the pre-treatment clinic visit, or for whom treatment has already started.
  • Patients who are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant during study duration will be excluded due to the unknown nature of exercise on developing fetuses.
  • Subjects who in the opinion of the investigator may not be able to comply with the safety monitoring requirements of the study.

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: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: PERCC
Receives personalized virtual exercise program (aerobic and resistance exercise) 1x weekly for patients with lung cancer who plan on receiving neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery.
Behavioral: PERCC

Personalized at-home exercise program, including aerobic and resistance exercise. Supervised by trained exercise professional via ZOOM (HIPPA complaint video conferencing platform).

Study equipment of Fitbit and resistance bands will be provided to participants.

Other Names:
  • Precise Exercise Regimen for Cancer Care (PERCC)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Attendance of Exercise Sessions (Feasibility)
Time Frame: From first exercise session to final exercise session (up to 24 weeks)
Defined as the proportion of enrolled participants who complete ≥80% of the prescribed exercise sessions.
From first exercise session to final exercise session (up to 24 weeks)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Treatment Delays
Time Frame: Defined as time between neoadjuvant therapy and surgery
Defined as time between neoadjuvant therapy and surgery
Physical Function (Short Physical Performance Battery - SPPB)
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
The SPPB is comprised of three sections: 1) balance with feet together, semi tandem, and full tandem is held for up to 10 seconds with no support (seconds); 2) usual gait speed over four meters is timed (seconds); and 3) chair stand where the time(s) to complete five chair sit-to-stands is recorded.
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Quality of Life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Lung [FACT-L])
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Lung (FACT-L), a 36-item instrument, which specifically determines the QoL in patients with lung cancer with subscales assessing "physical well-being", "emotional well-being", "social well-being", "functional well-being", and "disease-specific items."
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Fatigue (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Fatigue [FACT-F])
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Fatigue (FACT-F), which a 13-item instrument, added to the end of the FACT-L, which assessed self-reported fatigue and impact on daily activities.
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Nutritional Risk (Nutriscore)
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Nutritional risk will be assessed by a brief survey called the Nutriscore
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Personal Habits (Personal Habits Questionnaire)
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
The Personal Habits Questionnaire will be used to ascertain an idea of participants' habits in their personal lives.
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Smoking and Tobacco Usage
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Emotional Status (Thoughts and Feelings Questionnaire)
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
The Thoughts and Feelings Questionnaire will be administered to ascertain participants' emotional status.
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Exercise Self-Efficacy (Exercise Confidence Survey)
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Social Support (Social Activities Survey)
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Subjective Social Status (Society and Community Questionnaire)
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
The Society and Community Questionnaire will determine where participants feel they fall in society using subjective social status ladders.
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Healthcare Cost and Utilization
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Questionnaire that will be used measures PERCC intervention's impact on healthcare cost and utilization. This established survey looks at length of stay, hospital admissions, emergency room visits and healthcare-associated costs.
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Biomarker Levels
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Biomarkers will be analyzed via blood
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Body Composition
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), and blood pressure as measured twice on both arms with a seated position with a minimum of 1-minute interval and the higher pressure will be recorded when there are differences.

BIA: Assessed via bioelectrical impedance using a validated device (Tanita 780, Arlington Heights, IL). Participants will be asked to remove their shoes and socks after which height will be taken using a stadiometer they will then proceed to move to the BIA and stand still on the device while holding the handles with their hands at their sides. The device will estimate body fat using an algorithm based on their age, sex, height, and body weight.
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Hip and Waist Circumference
Time Frame: From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Hip and waist circumference will be assessed and recorded in cm.
From baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
Functional Mobility (Activity Measure for Post Acute Care [AM-PAC])
Time Frame: Baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study visit (T2) - approximately 24 weeks
The Activity Measure for Post Acute Care (AM-PAC) enables functional mobility assessment and assignment of functional stage. Participants will complete the AM-PAC questionnaire at T0 and every two weeks throughout their participation in the study.
Baseline (T0) to intermodal visit (T1) to end-of-study visit (T2) - approximately 24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Christina Dieli-Conwright, PhD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

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 (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 30, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 9, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 25-607

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center encourages and supports the responsible and ethical sharing of data from clinical trials. De-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript may only be shared under the terms of a Data Use Agreement. Requests may be directed to: [contact information for Sponsor Investigator or designee]. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data can be shared no earlier than 1 year following the date of publication

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

DFCI - Contact the Belfer Office for Dana-Farber Innovations (BODFI) at innovation@dfci.harvard.edu

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

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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