Impacts of Exercise on Prognostic Biomarkers in Lung Cancer Patients

This randomized pilot clinical trial studies exercise intervention in improving quality of life and exercise capacity and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with lung cancer and their support persons. Exercise therapy may help improve quality of life, may increase exercise capacity, and may reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with lung cancer and their supporters.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the effect of an eight-week exercise intervention on biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, exercise capacity, and quality of life in lung cancer patients. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the effect of an eight-week exercise intervention on markers of stress and quality of life in the support person of lung cancer patients. OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM A: Patients and their support persons undergo a supervised combined aerobic exercise comprising walking, cycling, or video-based aerobics and strength training using resistance bands for 40 minutes 2 days a week at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinic (UWHC) and 3 days a week at home over 8 weeks. ARM B: Patients and their support persons undergo the usual care over 8 weeks.