COBRA: Cancer, Older Adults, Balance and Resistance Activities

Launched by MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER · Jun 2, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The COBRA trial is studying an 8-week digital health program designed to help older adults with cancer improve their health and well-being. The goal is to see if this program is safe and practical for those who have recently finished their main cancer treatment or have stable metastatic cancer, which means their cancer has spread but is not worsening. To participate, individuals must be 65 years or older, able to read and speak English, and have access to the internet for video meetings.

Participants can expect to engage in activities that promote balance and resistance exercises, all under the guidance of health professionals. The program is tailored for those who are stable enough to participate in physical activities and do not have certain health issues that would prevent them from safely doing so. It's a great opportunity for older adults with cancer to focus on their health and connect with others in a supportive environment.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Older Adult Patients with Cancer
• • - Are within 1 year of completion of primary therapy for cancer OR have a diagnosis of metastatic cancer;
• • 1. For the purpose of this study, primary therapy is defined as treatment of curative intent, first-line or later, from which the individual is advancing to active surveillance or follow-up with or without maintenance therapy.
• • 2. Individuals with metastatic cancer may be included provided they have stable disease or better per most recent restaging exam at time of enrollment.
• • i. Patients with stable metastatic bony disease at most recent restaging exam and a score of 0-2 on the Functional Pain Scale (FPS69; Appendix 18) are eligible. The PI will consult with the Rehab Med co-PI for FPS scores of 3 or greater, by patient request or PI discretion.
• • ii. Patients with symptomatic visceral metastases will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis at time of enrollment.
• • Are aged 65 years and older, with no upper age limit;
• • ECOG PS 0-3 or Karnofsky PS greater than or equal to 40;
• • Can read and speak English;
• • Self-report access to internet connection sufficient to support videoconferencing.
• • Clinicians
• • Licensed clinician (MD, RN, APP) with an interest in the care of older adults with cancer.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Older Adult Patients with Cancer
• • Have any cognitive impairment, neurologic, musculoskeletal, or other comorbid condition (as assessed by their provider) that would prevent the individual from engaging with the digital health coaching program or complete study assessments or engage in progressive intensity levels of physical activity
• • Have a neurologic, musculoskeletal, or other comorbid condition that would impede their ability to safely engage in progressive intensity levels of physical activity (as assessed by their provider). Patients with metastatic disease and suspected interim progression since last restaging exam will be referred back to their primary oncology care team for evaluation prior to enrollment.
• • Have activity restrictions post-surgery at the time of enrollment
• • Clinicians No expected exclusions