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Head and Neck CancerNCT03524755

Physical Exercise for Patients Who Suffer From Weight Loss Due to Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Medical Treatment

A study testing Exercise in people with Head and Neck Cancer and Cachexia; Cancer, run by Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Cancer cachexia is a prevalent symptom of head and neck neoplasms. The reduction in skeletal muscle mass is one of the main characteristics which can lead to poor physical functioning. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Exercise
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
20 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
10 Jul 2013to 7 May 2015
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • planned inpatient or outpatient radiotherapy
  • ≥ 18 years of age
  • diagnosed state of cachexia (weight loss greater than 5 % over the past 6 months) or pre-cachexia (unintentional weight loss of 5 % or less of usual body weight during the last 6 months)

Who cannot join

  • metastatic disease
  • severe neurological problems or other contraindications for resistance training

About this study

Official title: Effects of a Progressive Resistance Training in Cachectic Cancer Patients During Radiotherapy - a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

Cancer cachexia is a prevalent symptom of head and neck neoplasms. The reduction in skeletal muscle mass is one of the main characteristics which can lead to poor physical functioning. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of progressive resistance training in cachectic head and neck cancer patients during radiotherapy in a pilot randomized controlled design.

Baseline data for all participants were ascertained via medical records and patient interview. This included demographic information, Union internationale contre le cancer-status (UICC-status), comorbidities and the results of blood samples. Outcomes were measured at admission. One study coordinator completed all assessments to enhance patient compliance. Body weight loss percentage was calculated via the individuals' body weight 6 months before (in retrospect) and the current body weight. Participants completed two questionnaires: The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and the Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy questionnaire. Six-Minute Walk Test was applied. To document changes in muscle force, strength of the functional muscle group for elbow flexion in supine position as well as of knee extension in sitting position (in each case right and left) was tested via hand-held dynamometry for isometric maximal muscle strength. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was executed to assess the adaption in body composition.

The exercise intervention was undertaken in the hospitals department of physical and rehabilitation medicine and based on standardized but individualized training protocols. It consisted of a warm up period for 5 minutes on a bicycle ergometer or an upper body cycle with individual selectable wattage. A leg press, a latissimus pull-down and a chest press formed the three equipment supported core exercises. All exercises were performed with 8-12 repetitions and 3 sets.

Being tested
Exercise
Medical subject headings
Head and Neck Neoplasms, Cachexia, Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • ExerciseOther

Study groups in NCT03524755
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Training GroupExperimentalWarm up period for 5 minutes on a bicycle ergometer or an upper body cycle with individual selectable wattage. A leg press, a latissimus pull-down and a chest press formed the three equipment supported core exercises. All exercises were performed with 8-12 repetitions and 3 sets. 3 training sessions (30min for each session) per week for during the course of radiotherapy (~6 weeks).
Receives: Other: Exercise
Control GroupNo interventionThe control group received usual care.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change from Baseline Cancer-related fatigue at post-radiotherapy and follow-up

    The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) which consists of 20 items that measure subgroups (general, physical and mental fatigue as well as reduced motivation and reduced activity) of fatigue with a 5-point Likert scale.

    Measured: Baseline, post-radiotherapy (~6weeks), follow-up (~8 weeks)

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Change from Baseline Anorexia/Cachexia at post-radiotherapy and follow-up

    Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT) questionnaire which registers well-being for physical, social/family, emotional and functional aspects of quality of life and additional concerns in cachexia with 5-point Likert scale for 39 items

    Measured: Baseline, post-radiotherapy (~6weeks), follow-up (~8 weeks)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted15 May 2018
  2. Study start10 Jul 2013
  3. Primary completion7 May 2015
  4. Study completion7 May 2015

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
20 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03524755
Sponsor's protocol ID
Cancer Cachexia Exercise
Status last verified
May 2018
First submitted
29 Apr 2018
Last updated
15 May 2018
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: My institution does not require data sharing and because of ethical concerns.

Publications

  • Couch M, Lai V, Cannon T, Guttridge D, Zanation A, George J, Hayes DN, Zeisel S, Shores C. Cancer cachexia syndrome in head and neck cancer patients: part I. Diagnosis, impact on quality of life and survival, and treatment. Head Neck. 2007 Apr;29(4):401-11. doi: 10.1002/hed.20447.

    PubMed 17285641
  • Speck RM, Courneya KS, Masse LC, Duval S, Schmitz KH. An update of controlled physical activity trials in cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cancer Surviv. 2010 Jun;4(2):87-100. doi: 10.1007/s11764-009-0110-5. Epub 2010 Jan 6.

    PubMed 20052559
  • Smets EM, Garssen B, Cull A, de Haes JC. Application of the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. Br J Cancer. 1996 Jan;73(2):241-5. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1996.42.

    PubMed 8546913
  • Ribaudo JM, Cella D, Hahn EA, Lloyd SR, Tchekmedyian NS, Von Roenn J, Leslie WT. Re-validation and shortening of the Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT) questionnaire. Qual Life Res. 2000;9(10):1137-46. doi: 10.1023/a:1016670403148.

    PubMed 11401046
  • Schmidt K, Vogt L, Thiel C, Jager E, Banzer W. Validity of the six-minute walk test in cancer patients. Int J Sports Med. 2013 Jul;34(7):631-6. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1323746. Epub 2013 Feb 26.

    PubMed 23444095
  • Grote M, Maihofer C, Weigl M, Davies-Knorr P, Belka C. Progressive resistance training in cachectic head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: a randomized controlled pilot feasibility trial. Radiat Oncol. 2018 Nov 6;13(1):215. doi: 10.1186/s13014-018-1157-0.

    PubMed 30400971

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Exercise in people with Head and Neck Cancer and Cachexia; Cancer, run by Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 May 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change from Baseline Cancer-related fatigue at post-radiotherapy and follow-up (time frame: Baseline, post-radiotherapy (~6weeks), follow-up (~8 weeks)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03524755, which also lists 6 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 May 2018; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.

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