ISEO – Inaugural Conference July 22nd & 23rd 2026 - organized by DKFZ

Patterns of physical activity and fatigue in patients receiving immunotherapy for melanoma

22 Jul 2026, 15:15

15m

Heidelberg Congress Center ( Heidelberg Congress Center )

3 - Talk Oral Session

Speakers

Sarah Marvin (Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia) Jasmine Yee (Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia) Kate Edwards (Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia)

Description

Background: The efficacy of physical activity (PA) in managing fatigue has been well-established for a range of cancers and treatment types. However, whilst patients with melanoma commonly report fatigue as a side-effect of immunotherapy treatment, the relationship with physical activity is not well-understood in this population. This ongoing study aims to examine the relationship between PA and fatigue in adults receiving immunotherapy as adjuvant therapy or treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Methods: Adults (ECOG 0-2) commencing immunotherapy as adjuvant therapy or treatment of metastatic melanoma were followed across four planned cycles of immunotherapy (C1-C4). Minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were measured using a Fitbit activity monitor. Meeting PA guidelines of 150-minutes of moderate or 75-minutes of vigorous activity was determined for each cycle. Fatigue was measured at each infusion and 1-week following using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue (FACIT-F). Clinically significant fatigue was defined as FACIT-F <34.

Results: Forty-four participants (mean age 62-years, 61% male, 44% metastatic) have completed this ongoing study. Average weekly minutes of MVPA was 112-minutes (±124-minutes), with 34% meeting PA guidelines in ≥1 cycle. However, only 14% met guidelines every cycle. Whilst there was no significant effect of cycle number on MVPA (p=0.697), average MVPA depicted an upwards trend increasing by 36-minutes from C1-C4. Clinically significant fatigue was reported by 36% at ≥1 cycle. Notably, there was no significant effect of cycle number on fatigue (p=0.199), however individuals who met PA guidelines reported significantly lower fatigue levels (p=0.026). Eleven participants discontinued treatment between C1-C4, though reasons for discontinuation require further investigation.

Conclusions: Levels of PA observed in this population are often below recommended guidelines, with many reporting clinically significant levels of fatigue. Preliminary findings suggest a positive relationship between PA and fatigue. Further analyses will be conducted in a larger sample.

Keywords

physical activity; fatigue; immunotherapy; melanoma