A Remotely Delivered Exercise-Based Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (EX-CIPN): A Phase I Feasibility Trial.
11 affiliations
- 1Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada.
- 2Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3K9, Canada.
- 3Division of Medical Oncology & Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada.
- 4Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T8, Canada.
- 5Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
- 6Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1E2, Canada.
- 7Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital, Dongsan 42601, Republic of Korea.
- 8Rehabilitation Department, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
- 9School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G5, Canada.
- 10Canadian Cancer Survivor Network, Ottawa, ON K2C 2B5, Canada.
- 11Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M6G 1X5, Canada.
Abstract
Background
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) affects two-thirds of patients who receive neurotoxic chemotherapy. In almost half of these patients, CIPN is persistent, with limited treatment options. Exercise-based rehabilitation shows promising results in improving CIPN-related outcomes, but high-quality research is needed with CIPN symptoms and disability as primary endpoints.Methods
We conducted a phase I single-arm, multi-method pilot study of a 10-week remotely delivered exercise-based rehabilitation program (EX-CIPN) for adult (≥18-years) cancer survivors experiencing CIPN symptoms ≥6 months post-chemotherapy. Primary outcomes were feasibility (accrual, retention, and adherence), acceptability (interviews and surveys), and safety (CTCAE v5). Secondary outcomes included pain, CIPN symptoms, CIPN-related disability, and physiologic assessments. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T1), post-program (T2), and 3 months post-program (T3). Post-program feedback surveys were completed at T2 and semi-structured qualitative video interviews were completed between T2 and T3.Results
In total, 36 participants (median age: 59, 83% female) consented to participate in the study. T1 retention rate (90%), adherence rates (77-96%), and no reported serious adverse events (Grade 3 CTCAE v5) supported study feasibility and safety. Interviews and surveys supported intervention acceptability. Retention rates at T2 (68%) and T3 (63%) did not reach feasibility targets. CIPN symptoms and CIPN-related disability showed significant improvement at T3 (p < 0.001).Conclusions
Results suggest that EX-CIPN has encouraging feasibility outcomes and is acceptable and safe. Preliminary clinical outcome results are promising. Based on these study results, we can proceed to test this intervention, with a few modifications, in a prospective randomised trial with a CIPN-related primary outcome.
Related
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BibTeX
@article{antonen2026remotely,
title = {{A Remotely Delivered Exercise-Based Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (EX-CIPN): A Phase I Feasibility Trial.}},
author = {Eric M Antonen and Michelle B Nadler and David M Langelier and Kristin L Campbell and David Flamer and Jang Hyuk Cho and Scott Capozza and Lisa Avery and Kelcey A Bland and Scott Leatherdale and Jackie Manthorne and Muna Al-Khaifi and Jennifer M Jones},
journal = {Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/curroncol33100621},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930188},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A Remotely Delivered Exercise-Based Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (EX-CIPN): A Phase I Feasibility Trial.
AU - Eric M Antonen
AU - Michelle B Nadler
AU - David M Langelier
AU - Kristin L Campbell
AU - David Flamer
AU - Jang Hyuk Cho
AU - Scott Capozza
AU - Lisa Avery
AU - Kelcey A Bland
AU - Scott Leatherdale
AU - Jackie Manthorne
AU - Muna Al-Khaifi
AU - Jennifer M Jones
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
JO - Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.)
DO - 10.3390/curroncol33100621
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930188
AB - Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) affects two-thirds of patients who receive neurotoxic chemotherapy. In almost half of these patients, CIPN is persistent, with limited treatment options. Exercise-based rehabilitation shows promising results in improving CIPN-related outcomes, but high-quality research is needed with CIPN symptoms and disability as primary endpoints.Methods We conducted a phase I single-arm, multi-method pilot study of a 10-week remotely delivered exercise-based rehabilitation program (EX-CIPN) for adult (≥18-years) cancer survivors experiencing CIPN symptoms ≥6 months post-chemotherapy. Primary outcomes were feasibility (accrual, retention, and adherence), acceptability (interviews and surveys), and safety (CTCAE v5). Secondary outcomes included pain, CIPN symptoms, CIPN-related disability, and physiologic assessments. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T1), post-program (T2), and 3 months post-program (T3). Post-program feedback surveys were completed at T2 and semi-structured qualitative video interviews were completed between T2 and T3.Results In total, 36 participants (median age: 59, 83% female) consented to participate in the study. T1 retention rate (90%), adherence rates (77-96%), and no reported serious adverse events (Grade 3 CTCAE v5) supported study feasibility and safety. Interviews and surveys supported intervention acceptability. Retention rates at T2 (68%) and T3 (63%) did not reach feasibility targets. CIPN symptoms and CIPN-related disability showed significant improvement at T3 (p < 0.001).Conclusions Results suggest that EX-CIPN has encouraging feasibility outcomes and is acceptable and safe. Preliminary clinical outcome results are promising. Based on these study results, we can proceed to test this intervention, with a few modifications, in a prospective randomised trial with a CIPN-related primary outcome.
SN - 1198-0052
SN - 1718-7729
ER -