Identifying Mediators of Exercise-induced Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling to Enhance Primary Chemotherapy Response (IMPROVE-Ovarian)
Key facts
- Who runs it
- University of Pittsburgh
- Where
- Pittsburgh, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Status
- Not yet recruiting
- People taking part
- 20 people, planned
- Starts
- 1 Dec 2026
- Expected to end
- 30 Sept 2027
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Exercise
- Usual Care
- Record updated
- 12 November 2026
Who can take part
- Age
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers
- Cannot take part
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 12 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Women, age ≥ 18 years old
- Diagnosed with high-grade serous ovarian cancer
- Treatment plan includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by potential interval debulking surgery at UPMC Magee Womens Hospital, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, UPMC Shadyside Hospital, or UPMC Passavant Hospital
- Consented to participate in STUDY19060197: HCC 07-058
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has not yet been initiated
- ECOG Performance Status Scale score of ≤ 2
- Ability to provide written informed consent
- Ability to understand, speak, and read English. (Many of the study instruments utilized are not readily available in multiple languages. Additionally, site-based study staff, such as exercise physiologists and clinical research coordinators, are not bilingual.)
Who cannot take part
- Receiving non-HGSOC related chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy
- Evidence in the EHR of an absolute contraindication for exercise (e.g., Heart insufficiency > NYHA III or uncertain arrhythmia; uncontrolled hypertension; reduced standing or walking ability)
- Active infections, hemorrhages, and cytopenias that could place surgical patients at risk for further adverse events, deemed by the exercise interventionist, physician, and/or nurse
- Any other comorbidities or musculoskeletal complications that preclude participation in the exercise programs as deemed by the exercise interventionist
Where in United States
- UPMC Hillman Cancer CenterPittsburgh, United StatesContact: Cara BattistellaNo longer taking part
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The goal of this study is to (1) determine the feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth-delivered exercise intervention (including resistance and aerobic training) during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and to (2) determine the effect of exercise on changes in immune function, inflammation, and treatment response.
The 2 groups in the trial
- Telehealth-delivered exercise (EX)Treatment being tested
Participants who opt-in to the exercise intervention will be in this arm. The intervention will include a tele-health delivered exercise program (resistance and aerobic exercise) lasting 9-12 weeks concurrent with their neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Treatment: Exercise
- Usual care (UC)Existing treatment, for comparison
The UC group will not receive any intervention during study participation and will undergo usual medical treatment. There is no intervention for this arm. They will be provided with a welcome packet with basic study information and educational materials on exercise during cancer treatment and their research participation will be surveillance-based assessments only during the duration of the study.
Treatment: Usual Care
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Identifying Mediators of Exercise-induced Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling to Enhance Primary Chemotherapy Response
- Record updated
- 12 November 2026