SIIPSC Newsletter - December 2021 | Page 4

December 2021 | Issue 5 | Page 4

Research Highlight : The AMPLIFY Study

By Wendy Demark-Wahnefried , PhD , RD ; Dorothy W . Pekmezi , PhD ; Maria Pisu , PhD ; Michelle Y . Martin , PhD ; and Laura Q . Rogers , MD , MPH

When Terry Calvert of Cold Springs , Alabama started leuprolide for prostate cancer , he felt as though his life would never be the same , “ I was completely washed-out . I could barely walk a hundred feet without having to stop and catch my breath .” Calvert , age 68 , who had always been active signed onto an NCI-funded clinical trial called AMPLIFY ( AiM , Plan , and act on LIFestYles- NCT04000880 ). “ I ’ m feeling better now – eating better and have lost weight ,” says Calvert . " Weighing everyday was a major step for me , and I am exercising and using the exercise bands that the study provided . Although I slipped a bit during the holidays and ate more than I should have , I am cutting back again and cut out the snacking . I have enjoyed the program , and I am sleeping better .” After one year in AMPLIFY , Mr . Calvert dropped 16 pounds ( roughly 10 % of his body weight ), was able to rise from a chair and walk much quicker , and he improved his endurance by walking 27 % more steps during a 2-minute testing period .

The AMPLIFY trial tests the impact of sequenced and combined diet and exercise interventions for cancer survivors on healthy eating , physical activity , and weight loss . These are web-based interventions that provide diet and exercise guidance according to the most recent recommendations issued by the American Institute of Cancer Research and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network , as well as tools to support survivors in achieving their goals and changing their lifestyle .

The AMPLIFY interventions have great potential to help cancer survivors as they build on two interventions that were found to be effective in the previous NCI-funded Better Exercise Adherence after Treatment for Cancer ( BEAT Cancer ) and Reach-out to Enhance Wellness ( RENEW ) in Older Cancer Survivors research clinical trials . BEAT Cancer tested an in-person exercise intervention that gradually tapered to a home-based program among 222 breast cancer survivors ( NCT00929617 ). The BEAT Cancer intervention significantly improved levels of physical activity , as well as fitness and quality of life — effects which were maintained at a 6- month follow-up . Likewise , the Reach-out to Enhance Wellness ( RENEW ) in Older Cancer Survivors research clinical trial tested the efficacy of a one-year program of tailored mailed print materials plus telephone counseling among 641 older , overweight and obese survivors of breast , prostate , and colorectal cancer who resided in 21 U . S . States , as well as Canada and the United Kingdom ( NCT00303875 ). The RENEW intervention significantly improved diet quality , physical activity , and led to weight loss — effects that were durable at a two-year follow-up .