non-chemotherapeutic interventions for the improvement of quality of life and immune function in patients with multiple myeloma

Conditions: Plasma Cell Myeloma; Recurrent Plasma Cell Myeloma; Refractory Plasma Cell Myeloma; Smoldering Plasma Cell Myeloma

Summary: this clinical trial investigates the effect of non-chemotherapeutic interventions in patients with multiple myeloma or mds. non-chemotherapeutic interventions such as physical activity and nutritional interventions (e.g., modifications in diet) have been shown to positively affect the immune system and improve overall quality of life. another purpose of this study is for researchers to learn how the addition of a beta-blocker (propranolol) to the standard treatment regimen in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma affects immune response and quality of life. a study from the mayo clinic looked at multiple myeloma patients who were on a beta-blocker while undergoing chemotherapy and found that the use of a beta-blocker resulted in improved patient survival outcomes. non-chemotherapeutic treatment options may help decrease symptoms and improve quality of life for patients with multiple myeloma.

primary objectives: i. to assess the impact of different lifestyle and low side effect interventions (exercise, nutrition, stress effects reduction) on immune markers in patients with monoclonal plasma cell and other hematologic disorders. secondary objectives: i. to assess the impact of different lifestyle and low side effect interventions (exercise, nutrition) on bone turnover parameters, body composition, the microbiome and physical fitness in patients with monoclonal plasma cell and other hematologic disorders. ii. to assess the impact of different lifestyle and low side effect interventions (exercise, nutrition, stress effect reduction) on parameters of stress, mental health and quality of life in patients with monoclonal plasma cell and other hematologic disorders. outline: patients are assigned to module a, b c or d. (mds patients will only be assigned in module d) module a: patients undergo strength training sessions twice weekly supervised by a licensed and specialized personal trainer via the internet (e.g., remote access) for 6 months. patients also wear a fitbit device and receive prompts via email or text on a cell phone or other electronic device to incrementally increase physical activity over 6 months. module b: patients undergo intermittent fasting for 1 month. this consists of restricting all eating to a consecutive 8-hour time period each day followed by 16 consecutive hours of not eating. module c: patients are assigned to group 1 (are not currently taking beta-blockers) or group 2 (current taking beta-blockers). group i: patients receive propranolol orally (po) twice daily (bid) for 3 months. group ii: patients continue receiving beta-blocker regimen as per standard of care (soc) for 3 months. module d: patients will receive resistance training twice a week for 6 months. after completion of the study interventions, patients in module a are followed every 3 months for 1 year. patients in module b are followed at 3 and 5 months. patients in module c are followed for 3 months.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * age \>= 18 years of age * have an eastern cooperative oncology group (ecog) performance status of: * module a: ecog 0 - 1 * module b: ecog 0 - 2 * module c: ecog 0 - 2 * module d: ecog 0-1 * module a, b and c: have a diagnosis of smoldering multiple myeloma, multiple myeloma or plasma cell leukemia (pcl) or * module d: non transfusion dependent low-risk mds * show no signs of comorbidities, myeloma symptoms, or treatment side effects that would put them in danger when participating in the study according to the physician's discretion * are able to understand and follow assessment and intervention procedures * participant must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an independent ethics committee/institutional review board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure * module a and d (physical activity): participant has access to a personal computer or tablet with camera, microphone, speakers and internet access * module b (nutrition): not applicable * module c (beta blocker): newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma necessitating treatment and before initiation of systemic therapy * module c: female participants of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at study entry and then agree to use adequate contraceptive methods (e.g., hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry. male patients with female partners of child-bearing potential should also use adequate contraceptive methods (see above). should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately module d: patients with mds not necessitating transfusion therapy at time of enrollment (no transfusion within 8 weeks prior to enrollment) i.e. patients on observation, or receiving growth factors or luspatercept only exclusion criteria: * major comorbidities that would cause danger to the patient when participating in the study and that would have a risk of progression if the patient took part in the study (including, but not limited to): cardiac or pulmonary and infectious diseases (e.g., ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia) or, psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements * any condition which in the investigator's opinion deems the participant an unsuitable candidate to take part in study intervention (comorbidities, myeloma symptoms, treatment side effects) * module a (physical activity): current and symptomatic pathological fracture(s) or severely advanced instability of the musculo-skeletal system that is deemed to making the patient unsafe to participate. this will be assessed by radiologist, a neurosurgeon and/or an orthopedic surgeon, if applicable. * module a (physical activity): current and symptomatic pathological fracture(s) or severely advanced instability of the musculo-skeletal system * module a (physical activity): acute bone instability as assessed by whole body low-dose computed tomography and evaluated by an experienced surgeon * module b (nutrition): clinical signs of malnutrition (body mass index \[bmi\] \< 18) * module b (nutrition): special diets (physician prescribed) * module b (nutrition): diabetic treated with glucose-lowering medications and/or insulin * module b (nutrition): other reasons not to withhold food * module b (nutrition): any condition which in the investigator's opinion deems the participant an unsuitable candidate to limit food consumption * module c (beta blocker): current use of a beta blocker (includes all non-selective and beta-1 selective blockers) or, use of a beta-blocker within 3 months of study enrollment * module c (beta blocker): contraindications to the use of beta-blockers, e.g.; severe sinus bradycardia; sick sinus syndrome; or heart block greater than first-degree, uncontrolled depression, unstable angina pectoris, uncontrolled heart failure (new york heart association \[nyha\] grade iii or iv), hypotension ( systolic blood pressure \ 8.5 or 12h fasting plasma glucose \> 160 mg/dl at screening), symptomatic peripheral arterial disease or raynaud's syndrome, untreated pheochromocytoma, current calcium channel blocker use (non-dihydropyridines such as verapamil) or rhythm control agents such as digoxin and amiodarone. patients with pacemakers will be excluded * module c (beta blocker): pregnant or nursing female participants, where pregnancy is defined as the state of a female after conception and until the termination of gestation, confirmed by a positive human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg) laboratory test * module d: cardiovascular disease which is deemed limiting exercise readiness by a cardiologist