ECHO-R Trial

ECHO-R is a Phase II trial evaluating the feasibility, safety and potential benefits of an individually tailored, exercise intervention during chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian, primary peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer. 

There is a pressing need to determine if exercise therapy is important for cancer cohorts with lower-survival and higher morbidity

Such is the case for women with recurrent ovarian cancer. This is a pre-post exercise intervention trial. This means that all women who agree to join the study will participate in an individually tailored, home-based, 26-week exercise program throughout their chemotherapy treatment.  Every participant is allocated an Exercise Professional (who is trained in prescribing exercise to women with ovarian cancer). They will have regular phone/telehealth contact with an exercise professional as they support and encourage the patient to exercise during chemotherapy. They will work with the patient to develop a program that can accommodate any ‘good’ and ‘bad’ days that they may have during treatment.

The program is tailored to meet the patient's individual needs. This includes consideration of fitness level, preferred activity types and potential treatment-related side-effects.

Trial Sites

• Greenslopes Private Hospital, QLD
• Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD
• Mater Private Hospital, QLD
• Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, QLD
• St Andrew's Private Hospital, QLD
• The Wesley Hospital, QLD

Recruitment

The ECHO-R trial opened for recruitment in February 2021.

The study aims to recruit 80 participants from Queensland sites.

The study is now closed for recruitment. 43 participants were enrolled.

Publications / Resources

Exercise during chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer (ECHO-R): A Phase II trial evaluating feasibility, safety and efficacy of an individually-tailored exercise intervention during chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer (2022).

Are our exercise oncology guidelines fit-for-purpose for women with recurrent ovarian cancer? Results from a mixed methods exercise trial (the ECHO-R trial) (2024).

Pre-post feasibility trial of a telephone-delivered exercise intervention for patients during chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer: the ECHO-R trial protocol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077158

The ECHO-R Exercise Trial For Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: Robust Evidence In An Understudied Population (2024). https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0001060808.73204.e6