Prehabilitation With Aerobic and Resistance Exercise for Improving Physical Fitness and Quality of Life Outcomes in Older Patients Undergoing CAR-T Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Launched by MAYO CLINIC · Jun 23, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at whether a special exercise program can help older adults who are about to receive CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that has come back or isn’t responding to treatment. CAR-T therapy uses the patient’s own immune cells, changed in the lab, to fight cancer, but it can sometimes cause side effects like weakness, nerve problems, and hospital stays. The study wants to see if doing personalized aerobic (like walking or cycling) and resistance exercises (like light weightlifting) before starting CAR-T therapy can improve patients’ strength, fitness, and overall quality of life both before and after treatment.

To join this study, participants need to be 60 years or older, have multiple myeloma, and be scheduled for CAR-T therapy. They should be well enough to exercise safely, as approved by their doctor, and not have other serious health problems that would make exercise risky. If eligible, participants will take part in tailored exercise sessions in the weeks leading up to their CAR-T treatment. This program aims to help people feel stronger and better prepared for their therapy, which could make recovery easier and improve how they feel overall.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Multiple myeloma diagnosis
• • Females and males ≥ 60 years of age
• • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score of \< 3
• • Scheduled for a CAR T therapy transfusion
• • Apheresis date at least 7 days prior to date of enrollment
• • Primary hematologist attending physician clearance for exercise
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Females or males \< 60 years of age
• • Any hematological cancer other than multiple myeloma
• • Evidence of an absolute contraindication \[e.g., heart insufficiency \> New York Heart Association (NYHA) III or uncertain arrhythmia; uncontrolled hypertension; reduced standing or walking ability for exercise\]
• • Other comorbidities that preclude participation in the exercise as deemed by physical therapist or physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM\&R) physician
• • Active infections, active bleeding disorders, and cytopenias at risk for further adverse events deemed by hematologist-oncologist