Exercise Prehabilitation In Colorectal Cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Randomised Controlled Trial of Pre-Operative High-Intensity Interval Training versus High-Intensity Interval Training plus Resistance Exercise Training in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Scheduled for Surgery with Curative Intent: A Study to Establish Mechanisms of Adaption to Advance Optimisation and Stratification
IRAS ID
321484
Contact name
Bethan Phillips
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN18133394
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Colorectal (bowel) cancers are a leading cause of death, but many can be cured with surgery alone. From diagnosis to surgery, the UK government allows a maximum time of 31-days, allowing only a short window in which patients can be physically optimised prior to surgery. Though surgery is often successful in treating the cancer, the effects of cancer and surgery on the body can lead to poor outcomes such as a hampered return to normal activities and reduced quality-of-life (QoL).
Given the short time-window to improve patients’ physical status prior to surgery and the importance of both muscle and heart/lung function in achieving this, we propose a trial of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. HIIT plus resistance exercise training (RET). We propose that the addition of RET will not only increase muscle mass/function but will also enhance benefit to the heart and lungs.
To test this, once we have informed consent from eligible patients, we will ask patients to attend a testing session to assess their physical function. We will also measure muscle mass and structure using whole-body x-ray and ultrasound. Patients will be asked to complete simple questionnaires about their physical activity, diet and QoL. We will then randomly allocate patients to either HIIT or HIIT+RET. Patients will then complete 8-12 supervised sessions of exercise before surgery. We will repeat the tests in the days before surgery, and again 6-weeks later.
To try and understand how the interventions are working, we will ask patients to consume three drinks (D2O, D3-creatine, D3-methylhistidine) at various timepoints throughout the study. These drinks are tasteless, safe and have been used in research for many years. Combined with muscle, blood, urine and saliva samples, these drinks help us look at the building and breakdown of muscle cells and what signals these cells are sending/receiving.REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SC/0115
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion