🏛️ Verified NIH Record • Updated 2026-07-07

Physical Activity With or Without Dexamethasone in Reducing Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With Locally Advanced, Metastatic, or Recurrent Cancer (NCT03583255)

A Combination Therapy for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Advanced Cancer Patients

🔵 Active, Not Recruiting Phase2 💊 Investigational Drug / Biologic Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)

This phase II/III trial studies how well physical activity with or without dexamethasone works in reducing cancer-related fatigue in patients with cancer that has spread to other places in the body or has come back. Dexamethasone may decrease the body's immune response. Combining physical activity with dexamethasone may help to treat fatigue in patients with cancer.

Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (7 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (11 items).

Location: M D Anderson Cancer Center — Houston, Texas

Age range: 18 Years

🧪 Interventions in This Study

📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener

Instant Checklist

Check every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).

Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:

  • Exclusion Criteria:
  • Patients with a history of hypersensitivity to dexamethasone or having any contraindication to physical activity as determined by the treating physician
  • Reports of a fall in the past 30 days
  • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus as defined by a random blood sugar of \> 200 mg/dl not being monitored by their primary care physician
  • Sepsis and/or acute, chronic, or ongoing infections that are currently being treated with systemic antimicrobials
  • Current, active peptic ulcer disease
  • Neutropenia as defined by an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of \< 1000 cells/mm
  • Regular participation in moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity for \>= 30 minutes at least 5 times a week and strength training for \>= 2 days
  • Symptomatic cardiac disease (New York Heart Association functional class III or IV) or coronary artery disease
  • Patients currently on immunotherapy
  • Inability to comply with study protocol procedures

🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.

📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)

  • M D Anderson Cancer Center — Houston, Texas

💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights

  • 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
  • Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
  • Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

💡 How to Participate

  1. Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
  2. Review the official NIH record below to find the coordinating site.
  3. Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
  4. Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.
🏛️ View Official NIH Record ↗