Dexamethasone and exercise for cancer-related fatigue: A phase III randomized controlled trial.

Authors

null

Vanita Noronha

Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India

Vanita Noronha , Supriya Goud , Sarika Gautam Mahajan , Rangita Sharma , Akanksha Yadav , Akash Pawar , Sravan Kumar Chintala , Minit Jalan Shah , Sucheta Bhagwan More , Nandini Sharrel Menon , Vijay Maruti Patil , Ajaykumar Chandrabhan Singh , Srushti Shah , Kavita Prakash Nawale , Dipti Nakti , Anuradha Daptardar , Naveen Karuvandan , Laboni Sarkar , Mannavi Suman , Kumar Prabhash

Organizations

Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, Tata Memorial Centre (HBNI), Mumbai, India

Research Funding

Other
Tata Memorial Center Research Administrative Council (TRAC)

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) significantly impacts QoL of patients. Dexamethasone with physical activity may improve CRF. Methods: Phase III randomized study in patients with advanced cancer on palliative intent therapy, with ECOG PS 0-2, and fatigue score > 4/10 on numeric rating scale. Intervention included oral dexamethasone 8 mg twice daily for 7 days, and exercise (aerobic + resistance). Results: From Dec 2022 to Feb 2023, we enrolled 114 pts; 56 in intervention arm, and 58 in standard arm. Median age was 56 yrs (IQR, 47.8 to 65), with 74 (64.9%) males. Common tumors were lung (75, 65.8%), head-and-neck (12, 11%), and breast (10, 8.8%). Compliance was 87.3% (n=48) for dexa, and 70.9% (n=39) for exercise. Primary endpoint of mean improvement in FACIT-Fatigue subscale on day 8 was 3.22 (SD, 12.69) in intervention, compared to 1.73 (SD, 9.97) in standard arm; P =0.495. However, 54.5% patients in intervention had at least 3 points (minimal clinically relevant) decrease in fatigue, vs 41.8% in control; P=0.182. By day 29, mean change in FACIT-Fatigue scores compared to baseline was similar in intervention vs control; 2.61 (SD, 14.64) vs 2.68 (SD, 12.87), respectively; P=0.978. Although overall symptoms (ESAS) and general QoL were similar, there was a significant improvement in fatigue symptom on EORTC QLQ-C30 in intervention on day 29 compared to baseline; P=0.013. Sleep quality also significantly improved on Day 29 in intervention; P=0.018. On EORTC-QLQ FA12 (cancer-related fatigue QoL), physical fatigue improved significantly from baseline to Day 8 in intervention versus control; P=0.035; with no difference in emotional or cognitive fatigue, interference with daily life, or social sequelae. There was no difference in grade ≥ 3 adverse events between groups; 18 (32.7%) in intervention group versus 18 (30.5%) in control group; P=0.799. Conclusions: Dexamethasone and exercise did not lead to a statistically significant improvement in fatigue by FACT-Fatigue scale, although it resulted in greater proportion of pts with clinically relevant improvements in fatigue. The intervention significantly improved QoL fatigue symptom score and reduced physical fatigue on QoL, along with improving sleep quality. Clinical trial information: CTRI/2022/09/045678.

Changes in various scores in fatigue study.

Mean change in score from baseline (SD)
Intervention armStandard armP
Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue)Day 83.22 (12.69)1.73 (9.97)0.495
Day 292.61 (14.64)2.68 (12.87)0.978
Fatigue (FACT-F TOI)Day 83.13 (21.70)2.38 (18.18)0.846
Day 298.94 (18.51)6.18 (22.43)0.499
Fatigue (MFI)Day 8-0.42 (11.33)-0.93 (8.64)0.79
Day 29-0.36 (14.17)-3.16 (12.75)0.272
Sleep quality (PSQI)Day 8-0.02 (3.70)0.76 (4.09)0.296
Day 29-1.15 (3.79)0.62 (3.81)0.018
Fatigue QoL (FA12)Day 8-6.26 (22.81)-0.10 (19.50)0.131
Day 29-11.00 (24.19)-6.50 (23.30)0.333
Fatigue symptom on EORTC QLQ-C30Day 8-11.11 (27.22)-1.41 (28.45)0.071
Day 29-20.09 (31.28)-5.46 (28.04)0.013

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Symptoms and Survivorship

Track

Symptom Science and Palliative Care

Sub Track

Palliative Care and Symptom Management

Clinical Trial Registration Number

CTRI/2022/09/045678

Citation

J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 17; abstr LBA12098)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2023.41.17_suppl.LBA12098

Abstract #

LBA12098

Poster Bd #

466

Abstract Disclosures