Bridget Hoyt

Exercise, as an expert explained to CURE, can have a significant positive impact on long-term outcomes for patients with cancer.

Following the publication of findings in 

, senior medical affairs liaison with ImpediMed and an expert in cancer rehabilitation and survivorship care, about the importance of exercise for patients as well as simple ways that they can safely start moving.

Can you explain in simple terms why exercise has such a powerful impact on long-term cancer outcomes?

The study was done with patients who had high-grade stage 2 or stage 3 colon cancer. Believe it or not, 20 years ago there was evidence suggesting that exercise could help, but what researchers really needed was a randomized controlled trial. That’s what makes this study so important — it actually divided patients into two groups. One group received standard care, which meant they were simply encouraged to be more physically active. The other group participated in a structured exercise program with instructors and classes, rather than just being handed a pamphlet.

The outcomes were impressive. Everyone expected to see some benefit, but we didn’t realize just how strong the effect would be. The benefit from exercise was comparable to giving patients an actual treatment, like chemotherapy. That’s how powerful it is — almost like a drug.

As for why exercise works this way, there are several hypotheses. One key idea involves something called myokines. Most people have heard of cytokines — especially during COVID, when we talked about cytokine storms. Cytokines are signaling molecules released in the body, and our muscles actually release a special kind called myokines.

These myokines act as messengers that travel throughout the body — to the brain, heart and other organs — helping to control inflammation and fatigue. This may be why exercise improves energy levels. It’s amazing to think that movement can trigger this kind of response almost immediately, not just over time.

If you’re feeling tired and think you should rest, that’s often the worst thing to do. Even light movement can stimulate the release of myokines that make you feel better — sometimes within minutes. That’s really the key takeaway: exercise provides both immediate and long-term benefits, and it doesn’t have to be intense — simple movement counts, too.

For patients who may not feel as physically fit or are nervous after treatment, what are some safe first steps they can take to begin exercising again?

A lot of people hear that word, “exercise,” and they think, “Oh my gosh. They want me to go to the gym and lift heavy weights, and they want me to get on a treadmill or on a stair climber. I don't like going to the gym,” or, “I don’t have the time, it’s too far away,” or “I don’t have the money.” People are scared, and they think that we’re trying to get them into something like CrossFit, and we’re not: we’re trying to get them off of the couch or out of the bed or out of the chair.

So I tell patients, start simple, and the first thing may be asking for help, whether that’s from a family member from your care team. Just be honest and say, “I really don’t know what to do.”

It can be as simple as just getting up out of a chair and seeing if you can do that 10 times in a row. That’s usually where I’d start with a patient. If you can’t, I really want you to call your care team and say, “I think I need help.” So that’s a very simple step, as is putting on walking shoes and going outside and walking, or another option if you’re living someplace where the weather may not be good, is every time you’re watching television, get up and move during the commercials. In a 30-minute TV show, you may actually get 10 minutes of exercise if you stand up and move every time.

I like to tell patients pop music is great because most songs are three minutes long — find your favorite song, put it on your phone and just get up and see if you can just do some dance that whole time. ... It can just be as simple as picking your feet up and down. Those are the first steps. When you start to do that every day, you’d be surprised. By the end of a month, most people can start to exercise or move for the required 30 minutes a day that we’d like you to get.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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Articles

Exercise significantly enhances long-term outcomes for cancer patients, akin to the effects of chemotherapy. A recent study involving high-grade stage 2 or 3 colon cancer patients demonstrated that structured exercise programs yield substantial benefits. The release of myokines during physical activity helps control inflammation and fatigue, providing immediate and long-term advantages. Patients are encouraged to start with simple movements, such as standing up from a chair or walking during TV commercials, to gradually build up to 30 minutes of daily exercise, improving their overall health and well-being.

Simple Ways for Patients With Cancer to Start Exercising

The FDA has approved Revuforj for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia with an NPM1 mutation.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Revuforj (revumenib), which is a menin inhibitor, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a susceptible nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) mutation in adult and pediatric patients 1 year old and older who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options.

The approval was announced in a news release issued by the agency.

The drug’s effectiveness was determined in a single-arm cohort of the open-label, multicenter SNDX-5613-0700, or AUGMENT-101, clinical trial, in which a susceptible mutation was confirmed in enrolled patients using next-generation sequencing or polymerase chain reaction of the last exon of NPM1.

Complete Remission Rate (CR): the percentage of patients whose cancer can no longer be detected after treatment.

Complete Remission with Partial Hematological Recovery (CRh): cancer is no longer detectable (complete remission), but the blood counts — such as red cells, white cells, or platelets — have not fully returned to normal levels.

Transfusion Dependence: when a person needs regular blood transfusions (red cells or platelets) because their body cannot make enough healthy blood cells on its own.

Differentiation Syndrome: A possible side effect of some cancer treatments that cause immature cancer cells to mature (or “differentiate”) quickly. This sudden change can lead to symptoms such as fever, weight gain, fluid buildup, or breathing problems.

QTc Interval Prolongation and Torsades de Pointes: These terms refer to changes in the heart’s electrical activity that can be seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG). QTc prolongation means the heart takes slightly longer than normal to recharge between beats. Torsades de Pointes is a rare but serious type of abnormal heart rhythm that can occur if the QTc becomes too long.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Some medicines can harm an unborn baby if taken during pregnancy. This is called embryo-fetal toxicity.

The main outcomes of the trial were complete remission rate (CR), complete remission with partial hematological recovery (CRh), CR and CRh duration and the rate of conversion from transfusion dependence to transfusion independence.

The agency reported that the CR+CRh rate was 23.1% and the median CR+CRh duration was 4.5 months, and of the 46 patients who were dependent on red blood cell (RBC) and/or platelet transfusions at baseline, eight (17%) became independent of RBC and platelet transfusions during any 56-day post-baseline period.

Regarding safety, the agency noted that the drug’s prescribing information includes warnings and precautions for differentiation syndrome, QTc interval prolongation and Torsades de Pointes, and embryo-fetal toxicity.

The recommended dosage of Revuforj, the agency stated, varies by a patient’s weight and concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.

What is Revuforj and How Does It Work to Treat AML?

Revuforj, as defined by the National Cancer Institute on its website, is a drug that binds to a protein called menin and keeps it from binding to another protein called KMT2A, and this in turn stops or slows the growth of leukemia cells with changes in the

 in November 2024 for the treatment of adults and children aged 1 year and older with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia with a KMT2A translocation.

The oral drug was granted priority review by the FDA in June 2025 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory mutant 

-positive AML, according to a news release from Syndax Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of the drug.

Syndax announced in September that the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for AML were updated to include Revuforj as a category 2A recommendation for relapsed or refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with an 

 mutation (mNPM1), with the update based on positive pivotal results from the AUGMENT-101 trial of revumenib which were published in the journal 

“The inclusion of [Revuforj] as a recommended treatment option for R/R NPM-mutated AML in the NCCN Guidelines underscores the strength of our clinical data in this population and further solidifies [Revuforj’s] leading position,” said Nick Botwood, head of research and development and chief medical officer at Syndax, in a news release issued at the time. “Given the pivotal role NCCN Guidelines play in guiding the decision-making process for clinicians, payers, patients and other key stakeholders in the U.S. and beyond, this is a major milestone for Syndax and the entire acute leukemia community.”

Syndax has stated that additionally, multiple trials of Revuforj are ongoing or planned across the treatment landscape, including in combination with standard of care therapies in newly diagnosed patients with mNPM1 or KMT2Ar AML.

“FDA approves revumenib for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia with a susceptible NPM1 mutation,” FDA; https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-revumenib-relapsed-or-refractory-acute-myeloid-leukemia-susceptible-npm1-mutation?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

“Revuforj,” National Cancer Institute; https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/revuforj

“FDA Approves Revuforj for Relapsed/Refractory Acute Leukemia Subset,” CURE; https://www.curetoday.com/view/fda-approves-revuforj-for-relapsed-refractory-acute-leukemia-subset

“Syndax’s Revuforj® (revumenib) Included in NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory NPM1 Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia,” news release; https://ir.syndax.com/news-releases/news-release-details/syndaxs-revuforjr-revumenib-included-nccn-clinical-practice

The FDA has approved Revuforj (revumenib), a menin inhibitor, for treating relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with an NPM1 mutation in patients aged one year and older. The approval is based on the AUGMENT-101 trial, which demonstrated a 23.1% complete remission rate. Revuforj works by inhibiting menin's interaction with KMT2A, slowing leukemia cell growth. Safety concerns include differentiation syndrome and QTc prolongation. The drug is now included in NCCN Guidelines as a category 2A recommendation for NPM1-mutated AML.

FDA Approves Revuforj for R/R NPM1-Mutant AML

CURE spoke with Dr. Surbhi Sidana about the recently approved antibody-drug conjugate Blenrep for multiple myeloma.

How Does FDA-Approved Blenrep Treat Multiple Myeloma?

On Oct. 23, it was announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

 Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin-blmf) in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone (a combination known as BVd) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory (IMID) agent.

The approval was announced in a news release issued by GSK plc, the manufacturer of Blenrep.

The approval, according to the news release, was supported by data from the DREAMM-7 phase 3 trial, which showed that in patients who had two or more prior lines of therapy including a PI and an IMID, the Blenrep plus BVd combination was associated with a 51% reduction in the risk of death and a tripled median progression-free survival (PFS) of 31.4 months vs 10.4 months for a daratumumab-based triplet therapy (DVd).

According to the news release, the safety and tolerability profiles of the combination regimen were found to be broadly consistent with the known profiles of the individual agents.

Blenrep, as noted by the FDA in its announcement of the approval, is a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed antibody and microtubule inhibitor conjugate.

To discuss this approval and its significance for patients, CURE spoke with Dr. Surbhi Sidana, who is the chair of the American Society of Hematology’s Committee on Communications and an associate professor of medicine at Stanford University in California, about Blenrep and how this type of treatment works to treat multiple myeloma.

How do antibody-drug conjugates such as Blenrep work to treat multiple myeloma?

An antibody drug conjugate is a drug that has, on one end, a monoclonal antibody. In the case of [Blenrep], it’s against BCMA, or B-cell maturation antigen. And these antibodies are toward tumor targets, so they will go and identify a tumor antigen on a tumor cell, and then it is attached to a payload. Once the antibody recognizes the tumor cells and binds to [them], the payload is internalized, and that is the one that is causing cell death or toxicity to the cancer cell.

“Blenrep approved by US FDA for use in treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma,” news release; https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/blenrep-approved-by-us-fda-for-use-in-treatment-of-relapsedrefractory-multiple-myeloma/

"FDA Approves Blenrep Plus Velcade/Dexamethasone For R/R Multiple Myeloma," CURE; https://www.curetoday.com/view/fda-approves-blenrep-plus-velcade-dexamethasone-for-r-r-multiple-myeloma 

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The FDA has granted fast track designation to MT-125 for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted fast track designation to MT-125 for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma.

The development was announced in a news release issued by Myosin Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company behind the treatment.

Fast track, as the FDA explains on its website, is a process that is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs that treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need, with the aim of getting new drugs to patients earlier.

“Receiving fast track designation validates our conviction that MT-125 has the potential to offer an entirely novel treatment approach to patients with even the most aggressive forms of glioblastoma” said Dr. Courtney Miller, chief executive officer of Myosin Therapeutics, in a statement included in the news release. “We are energized by the open communication with the FDA that the Fast Track offers because it will ensure we advance MT-125 as quickly as possible with our patient-centered approach.”

In June, the company announced that the FDA had accepted an investigational new drug application for MT-125, allowing for the initiation of a phase 1 study to evaluate the experimental treatment in combination with standard of care radiation among patients with newly diagnosed, IDH wild-type, MGMT-unmethylated glioblastoma.

How Does MT-125 Work to Treat Glioblastoma?

MT-125 is, according to the company, is a selective inhibitor of non-muscle myosin II (NMII), a molecular motor protein that drives tumor proliferation and invasion, resistance to therapy and oxidative stress and immune evasion. By specifically targeting NMII, the company explained, MT-125 is designed to disrupt these critical mechanisms of glioblastoma progression. It was also previously granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of malignant gliomas, including glioblastoma.

“Glioblastoma remains one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers, with limited advances over the past two decades,” said Miller said in a news release issued in June. “In collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, we have rapidly advanced our MT-125 program in glioblastoma, and we’re driven and encouraged by the FDA’s clearance to proceed with our first-in-human trial. Preclinical studies suggest targeting non-muscle myosin II represents a uniquely holistic approach to tackling this complex and devastating disease.”

“We appreciate the FDA’s rapid and comprehensive review of our IND submission,” said Valerie Ahmuty, head of regulatory affairs at Myosin Therapeutics, also stated in the news release. “The population of patients we hope to support with MT-125 is in dire need of treatment options.”

Glial cells, as defined by the National Cancer Institute, are any of the cells that hold nerve cells in place and help them work the way they should.

Glioma, while not a specific type of brain tumor, is a general term for tumors that start in the glial cells such as astrocytomas, which include glioblastomas, according to the American Cancer Society, which noted that approximately three out of 10 brain tumors are gliomas. High-grade astrocytomas tend to grow quickly and spread to surrounding brain shalf of all gliomas and are the most common malignant brain tumors in adults.

Glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association, make up approximately 14% of all primary brain tumors, and on average more than 12,000 cases of glioblastoma are diagnosed each year in the United States.

“Myosin Therapeutics Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for MT-125 in Glioblastoma,” news release; https://myosintherapeutics.com/myosin-therapeutics-receives-fda-fast-track-designation-for-mt-125-in-glioblastoma/

“Fast Track,” FDA; https://www.fda.gov/patients/fast-track-breakthrough-therapy-accelerated-approval-priority-review/fast-track

“Myosin Therapeutics Receives FDA Clearance to Initiate First-in-Human Trial of MT-125 in Glioblastoma,” news release; https://myosintherapeutics.com/myosin-therapeutics-receives-fda-clearance-to-initiate-first-in-human-trial-of-mt-125-in-glioblastoma/

“Glial cell,” National Cancer Institute; https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/glial-cell

“Types of Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Adults,” American Cancer Society; https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/brain-spinal-cord-tumors-adults/about/types-of-brain-tumors.html

“Glioblastoma (GBM),” American Brain Tumor Association; https://www.abta.org/tumor_types/glioblastoma-gbm/

The FDA has granted fast track designation to MT-125, a treatment for glioblastoma developed by Myosin Therapeutics. This designation aims to expedite the development and review of drugs addressing serious conditions with unmet medical needs. MT-125 is a selective inhibitor of non-muscle myosin II, targeting tumor proliferation and resistance mechanisms in glioblastoma. The FDA has also accepted an investigational new drug application for MT-125, allowing a phase 1 study. Glioblastoma remains a highly aggressive cancer with limited treatment advancements over the past two decades.

Bridget Hoyt

Simple Ways for Patients With Cancer to Start Exercising

FDA Approves Revuforj for R/R NPM1-Mutant AML

How Does FDA-Approved Blenrep Treat Multiple Myeloma?

FDA Fast Tracks MT-125 for Glioblastoma

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