Efficacy of Massage for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Fatigue (CRF) in Prostate Cancer Survivors

Summary

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a prevalent and debilitating symptom experienced by cancer survivors. CRF can persist for months or years after cancer therapy is completed and has a negative impact on all areas of mental and physical function. Treatment options for CRF are extremely limited and finding safe, inexpensive, and effective interventions for managing this distressing symptom are urgently needed. Massage therapy is one of the fastest growing complementary therapies. A recently completed study in breast cancer survivors with CRF found that Swedish Massage Therapy (SMT) caused a significant reduction in fatigue and improvement in quality of life. This study investigates the effects of massage therapy on CRF among prostate cancer survivors. The study will evaluate whether SMT improves quality of life, depression, and anxiety. Second, this study will evaluate if SMT reduces CRF by decreasing the pro-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Lastly, to establish measures of reduced fatigue beyond self report at the treatment visits, the researchers will implement continuous, real-time monitoring of physiologic and psychological signs and symptoms, throughout the treatment period. This study will improve care for CRF and other hard-to-manage symptoms of cancer treatment and provide preliminary evidence of immune modulation as a potential mechanism of action.

This study is a randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of Swedish massage therapy (SMT) versus an active control condition (light touch, LT) on cancer related fatigue in men with prostatic cancer, at least 2 months after the end of their radiation therapy. The primary outcome is the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI). Secondary outcomes are the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement System (PROMIS) Fatigue Scale, plasma concentrations of cytokine IL-6, self-reported quality of life, depression, and anxiety, wearable measures of activity and sleep, and Automated Monitoring of Symptom Severity (AMoSS) ratings.

Conditions

• Cancer-related Problem/Condition

Interventions

OTHER

Swedish Massage Therapy

The therapist uses non-aromatic massage oil to facilitate making long, smooth strokes over the body. Swedish massage is done with the subject covered by a sheet, a technique called "draping." One part of the body is uncovered, massaged, and then covered up before moving onto another part of the body. Primary techniques used in the research protocol therapy are: effleurage, petrissage, tapotement. These will be administered according to a very specific, standardized protocol. The total session time will be 45 minutes.

OTHER

Light Touch Intervention

The light-touch research intervention is based on the concept that there will be a noticeable effect with regard to massage when compared to light-touch alone without the massage. The protocol followed will be the same as the massage protocol other than that the therapist will use light-touch only. The total session time will be 45 minutes.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Emory University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mark Rapaport, MD · Emory University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

45 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-01-22

Primary Completion

2019-03-31

Completion

2019-03-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations