Walking your way through chemo: study tests if steps keep treatment on track

NCT ID NCT03115398

Symptom relief Sponsor: Montefiore Medical Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tested whether a simple walking program, guided by a fitness tracker, could help cancer patients tolerate their chemoradiotherapy without missing treatments. 166 adults with brain, head and neck, lung, gastrointestinal, or cervical cancer participated. Patients were given step goals and support to meet them, and researchers tracked how many radiotherapy sessions they missed.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: pedometer-based walking program
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a simple, low-cost way to help cancer patients stay strong enough to finish their full course of chemoradiotherapy.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study with 166 participants across several cancer types, so results may not apply to everyone. The walking program may not be enough to prevent treatment interruptions for all patients.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

166 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Feb 2017

Finished

Mar 2021

Lead sponsor

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.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age \> 18 * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Able to ambulate independently (without the assistance of a cane or walker) * Diagnosis of invasive malignancy of the brain, head and neck region, lung, gastrointestinal tract, or uterine cervix * Planned treatment with fractionated (≥15 treatments) external beam radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy (or cetuximab) with curative intent (including preoperative or postoperative treatment) * Women of childbearing potential must: * Have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to the start of study therapy * Agree to utilize an adequate method of contraception throughout treatment and for at least 4 weeks after study therapy is completed * Be advised of the importance of avoiding pregnancy during trial participation and the potential risks of an unintentional pregnancy. * All patients must sign study specific informed consent prior to study entry.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

brain cancer cervical cancer digestive system cancer digestive system neoplasm head and neck cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms lung cancer lung neoplasm Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Brain cancer Cervical cancer Gastrointestinal cancer Head and neck cancer Lung cancer

Walking your way through chemo: study tests if steps keep treatment on track

What the study statuses mean