Step up against cancer: study links daily walks to better treatment outcomes
NCT ID NCT06668402
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Sep 18, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at whether being more physically active, measured by daily steps, helps rectal cancer patients respond better to chemotherapy and radiation before surgery. About 120 participants wore smartwatches to track their steps, heart rate, and sleep. The goal was to see if higher step counts led to a higher chance of having no cancer left at the time of surgery. The results could help create exercise guidelines for cancer patients.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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160 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2024
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
This study will involve adult patients diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer (stages II and III) who are scheduled to receive total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), which includes chemotherapy and radiotherapy prior to surgery. Participants are required to have sufficient physical capacity for regular activity monitoring via a wearable smartwatch, which will collect data on physical activity, heart rate, and sleep quality. Stage I and metastatic (stage IV) rectal cancer patients are excluded, as they are not candidates for TNT. The study population represents individuals who are eligible for this preoperative treatment and can benefit from objective monitoring of activity as part of their treatment response assessment.
- Ages
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 18 years and older. * Diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer (stage II or III) and eligible for total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT). * Planned to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy as part of neoadjuvant treatment before surgery. * Capable of providing informed consent. * Able to wear and operate the Huawei Watch Fit 2 smartwatch throughout the treatment period. * Sufficient mobility to engage in physical activity, including walking, as per study requirements. * Willing to complete weekly monitoring visits and complete the EORTC QLQ-C30 and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaires at baseline and study end Exclusion Criteria: * Stage I or metastatic (stage IV) rectal cancer. * Contraindications to physical activity, including but not limited to severe cardiovascular or respiratory conditions that limit mobility. * Prior treatment for rectal cancer with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. * Use of a pacemaker or other implanted medical devices that might interfere with smartwatch functionality. * Known allergic reaction to materials in the Huawei Watch Fit 2 smartwatch. * Severe cognitive or psychological disorders that would hinder participation in the study or completion of questionnaires. * Any medical or psychiatric condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, may compromise patient safety or interfere with study adherence.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Etlik City Hospital
Ankara, Yenimahalle, 06170, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Gazi University
Ankara, Yenimahalle, 06560, Turkey (Türkiye)
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