Recruiting

Stem Cell Transplant

Sponsor:

University of Nebraska

Code:

NCT04898790

Conditions

Leukemia

Lymphoma

Multiple Myeloma

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Myeloproliferative Neoplasm

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 19+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

CHAMPS-II adapted to adults 60+ years in HCT setting

Study Details

Brief summary:

Cancer and treatment-related cognitive changes, such as thinking or remembering, hinder resumption of normal routine and roles and worsen quality of life. Older adults undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are at high-risk for cognitive impairment. Age is a risk factor for Alzheimer's Dementia (AD) and the hematological malignancies leading to HCT. There are shared mechanisms and interactions between AD and cancer-related cognitive decline (CRCD). Physical activity improves cognitive function in older adults and survivors of other cancers. This study hypothesizes that increasing physical activity can also improve cognitive function in this vulnerable population.

The study has two goals. The first is to adapt and test an evidence-based physical activity intervention, The Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors II (CHAMPS II), in the HCT setting for adults 55 years and older. This will be done using semi-structured interview of up to 10 patients who have experienced the HCT process within the last 3 to 6 months with HCT care-team partners.

The second goal will explore the prevalence and impact of AD-neuropathology and inflammation on cancer-related cognitive decline (CRCD) in older adults undergoing HCT.

Conditions

Leukemia

Lymphoma

Multiple Myeloma

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Myeloproliferative Neoplasm

Study ID

NCT04898790

Start date

Nov 18, 2021

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Jul, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jul, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 19+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Arm 1:

Inclusion Criteria for Participants:

  • age 60 years and older
  • have a diagnosis of hematological malignancy
  • have received autologous or allogeneic HCT within the prior 3-6 months
  • able to speak and read English
  • have provided written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria for Participants:

  • there are no exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria for Participants' Care-Partner:

  • age 19 years and older
  • able to speak and read English

Exclusion Criteria for Participants' Care-Partner:

  • there are no exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria for Transplant Team Member:

  • age 19 years and older
  • able to speak and read English

Exclusion Criteria for Transplant Team Member:

  • there are no exclusion criteria

Arms 2 and 3:

Inclusion Criteria for Participants:

  • age 55 years and older
  • have a diagnosis of hematological malignancy
  • planned to receive an autologous or allogeneic HCT
  • able to walk 4 meters as part of the Short Physical Performance Battery (with or without assistance)
  • (In Arm 3 only): willingness to be randomized to either initiate the physical activity intervention pre-HCT or following Day 180 post-HCT, and to follow the protocol for the group to which they have been assigned
  • able to speak and read English
  • have provided written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria for Participants:

  • development of chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or occurrence of other safety concerns during the physical performance measures (i.e. Short Physical Performance Battery)
  • is not cleared to participate in exercise by a physician

Individuals with the following current conditions/diagnoses documented in medical history will be required to provide clearance for exercise from their cardiologist:

  • Myocardial infarctions in the past 3 months
  • Resting or unstable angina
  • Uncontrolled and/or serious arrhythmias
  • 3rd degree heart block
  • Acute congestive heart failure or ejection fraction <30%
  • Clinically significant aortic stenosis

Individuals with the following conditions/diagnoses will be required to provide clearance for exercise from their surgeon:

  • Hip fracture, hip or knee replacement, or spinal surgery in the past 3 months

  • other medical, psychiatric, or behavioral factors that in the judgement of the principal investigator may interfere with study participation or the ability to follow either the intervention or the active control condition
  • (In Arm 3 for those who agree to the voluntary measures of blood, saliva and MRI, there are additional exclusions to avoid conditions that may confound study outcomes):
  • history of residual brain abnormalities from prior severe traumatic brain injury (e.g. encephalomalacia) or other significant abnormalities documented on a recent brain MRI (e.g. brain cancer, large vessel strokes, residual subdural hematoma)
  • history of major stroke with obvious residual deficits
  • history of relapsing and remitting Multiple Sclerosis
  • active moderate to severe psychiatric symptoms due to primary psychiatric disorder

Inclusion Criteria for Participants' Care-Partner:

  • age 19 years and older
  • able to speak and read English
  • able to walk 4 meters as part of the Short Physical Performance Battery (with or without assistance)
  • have no medical contraindications for participating in light to moderate-intensity physical activity per PI review of medical history as reported on the care-partner medical history form

Exclusion Criteria for Participants' Care-Partner:

  • development of chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or occurrence of other safety concerns during the physical performance measures (i.e. Short Physical Performance Battery)
  • is not cleared to participate in exercise by a physician

Individuals with the following current conditions/diagnoses documented in medical history will be required to provide clearance for exercise from their cardiologist:

  • Myocardial infarctions in the past 3 months
  • Resting or unstable angina
  • Uncontrolled and/or serious arrhythmias
  • 3rd degree heart block
  • Acute congestive heart failure or ejection fraction <30%
  • Clinically significant aortic stenosis

Individuals with the following conditions/diagnoses will be required to provide clearance for exercise from their surgeon:

o Hip fracture, hip or knee replacement, or spinal surgery in the past 3 months

  • other medical, psychiatric, or behavioral factors that in the judgement of the principal investigator may interfere with study participation or the ability to follow either the intervention or the active control condition

Inclusion Criteria for Transplant Team Member:

  • age 19 years and older
  • able to speak and read English

Exclusion Criteria for Transplant Team Member:

  • there are no exclusion criteria

Study Design

Enrollment

114 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

no intervention: Feedback for Preliminary Adaptation

Participants in Aim 1 will participate in qualitative interviews to obtain feedback on the CHAMPS-II intervention and survivorship education active control condition materials. Interviews will be with 1)adult participants 60+ years who have recently undergone HCT, 2)participants' care-partner, and 3)HCT team members.

experimental: Adapted CHAMPS-II intervention

All participants in Aim 2 (preliminary testing) and Aim 3 (RCT) will participate in the CHAMPS-II physical activity program adapted to the HCT setting. Testing for outcome measures will be completed, and feedback on the intervention will be obtained via qualitative interviews from 1)adult participants 60+ years receiving HCT, 2)participants' care-partner, and 3)HCT team members.

Aim 3 participants will be randomized to either the immediate intervention (intervention then follow-up) or delayed intervention (wait period and then intervention).

Interventions

CHAMPS-II adapted to adults 60+ years in HCT setting

CHAMPS-II is an evidence-based physical activity program designed to increase physical activity in sedentary older adults with multiple chronic health conditions. This is an individually tailored program that provides information, skills, training, and problem-solving support to older adults. Participants will engage in progressive, light to moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the HCT process, with the support of physical therapists, physical activity counselors, and their care-partner. They will take part in supervised exercise sessions; unsupervised exercise sessions; counseling sessions to address barriers, motivators, goals, and safety; and receive telephone support. Walking is the primary mode of aerobic activity, with training in flexibility, strengthening and balance exercises also included. An exercise kit will be provided, consisting of an intervention workbook, therapeutic resistance bands, and activity logs.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in executive function as measured by Trails A. [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]
  • Change in executive function as measured by Trails B. [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]
  • Change in executive function as measured by the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT). [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]
  • Change in working memory as measured by the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R). [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Recruiting

Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 68198

Contacts

Principal Investigator:

Thuy Koll, MD

More Information

Sponsor

University of Nebraska

Last update posted

Aug 19, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • Hematopoietic cell transplantation

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Nebraska on 2026-08-19.