Yoga Therapy in Treating Patients With Malignant Brain Tumors

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To estimate the participation rate, accrual, adherence, and retention to a yoga trial in
patients with malignant brain tumors.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To obtain estimates of the variability of self-reported fatigue, distress (i.e.,
depression, anxiety), sleep disturbance, cognitive function, and health-related quality of
life from baseline to the end of the intervention at 6 (post-onsite intervention) and 12
weeks (post-full intervention).

II. To obtain preliminary estimates of the efficacy of a yoga intervention in patients with
malignant brain tumors on the outcomes of fatigue, distress, and cognitive function.

III. To standardize the cancer-specific yoga protocol for use with brain tumor patients.

OUTLINE:

Patients participate in yoga classes comprising postures, deep relaxation, breathing
practices, and meditation twice weekly for 75 minutes during weeks 1-6. Patients then
practice yoga at home twice weekly for 45 minutes during weeks 7-12.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up periodically for 4-5 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

Signed protocol specific informed consent Are diagnosed with a Malignant Brain Tumor
(Grades II-IV) Able to start the on-site yoga intervention within 1 week of first radiation
treatment Are physically able to attend the intervention classes (Eastern Cooperative
Oncology Group [ECOG] performance status rating 0-2) Able to understand written and spoken
English Have no medical contraindications reported by the attending physician

Exclusion Criteria:

Have practiced yoga on a regular basis (at least once a week) within the past 4 weeks to
recruit participants who are not already regularly practicing yoga; given that the benefits
of yoga are likely more immediate than long-term, however, we will enroll participants who
have previously had a yoga practice