AzTrials
AzTrials

Gastrointestinal CancerNCT07003061

Sarcopenia and Neuromuscular Block in Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery

An observational study of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Sarcopenia, run by Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Completed

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

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the effects of sarcopenia on intraoperative neuromuscular block (NMB) in patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 75 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Standard Anesthesia Management
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
How many people
100 participants
Where
1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates
1 Jun 2025to 1 Apr 2026
Phase
Observational
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 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Adult patients aged 18 to 75 years who have been diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer and are scheduled for elective surgery at Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital. All participants will have undergone preoperative abdominal CT scans. Both male and female patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be eligible for enrollment.

Who may be able to join

  • Patients aged between 18 and 75 years
  • Patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal system (GIS) cancer and scheduled for elective surgery
  • Patients who have undergone preoperative abdominal computed tomography (CT) imaging
  • Patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III

Who cannot join

  • Patients with a history of neuromuscular diseases
  • Patients receiving chronic steroid or immunosuppressive therapy
  • Patients with electrolyte imbalance
  • Patients using medications that affect neuromuscular transmission
  • Patients with severe organ failure in the preoperative period (e.g., liver or renal failure)
  • Patients who refuse to participate in the study
  • Patients requiring emergency surgery
  • Patients using muscle relaxants in the preoperative period

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
  • Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital Clinic of Anesthesiology and Rea

    Ankara, Yenimahalle, 06200

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Official title: The Effects of Sarcopenia on Neuromuscular Block in Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the effects of sarcopenia on intraoperative neuromuscular block (NMB) in patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery. Adult patients scheduled for elective gastrointestinal cancer surgery will be grouped as sarcopenic or non-sarcopenic based on preoperative abdominal CT scans. Neuromuscular block parameters, including onset time, depth, duration, and recovery, will be objectively measured using TOF (Train-of-Four) monitoring. The study seeks to determine whether sarcopenia influences sensitivity to muscle relaxants and to contribute to individualized anesthesia management and patient safety.

Read the detailed description

Sarcopenia, characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is a significant clinical parameter affecting both prognosis and perioperative management in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. It may alter the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of anesthetic agents, particularly neuromuscular blocking agents. This prospective observational study will be conducted at Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital between June 1, 2025, and September 1, 2025.

Adult patients (aged 18 and above) scheduled for elective GI cancer surgery who have undergone preoperative abdominal computed tomography (CT) will be included. Patients with neuromuscular diseases, those on chronic steroid or immunosuppressive therapy, or those with significant organ failure will be excluded. Preoperative CT images at the L3 vertebral level will be evaluated by a radiologist to determine sarcopenia status, and patients will be divided into sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic groups according to established cut-off values.

All patients will receive standard anesthesia monitoring, including TOF (Train-of-Four) neuromuscular monitoring. The study will not alter any treatment protocols. After administration of muscle relaxants during anesthesia induction, neuromuscular block parameters such as onset time, depth, duration, need for reversal agents, and recovery time will be recorded. Demographic data, comorbidities, laboratory findings, type of surgery, and details of muscle relaxant use will also be collected.

The primary objective is to compare intraoperative neuromuscular block parameters between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients. Statistical analysis will be performed using appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables. The study aims to provide evidence for individualized dosing of muscle relaxants and to improve patient safety in anesthesia practice for GI cancer surgery.

Being tested
Standard Anesthesia Management
Medical subject headings
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms, Sarcopenia

What participants receive

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

  • Standard Anesthesia ManagementProcedure or surgery

    All patients will receive standard anesthesia care as per institutional protocols. No experimental intervention will be applied.

Study groups in NCT07003061
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
SarcopenicPatients with gastrointestinal cancer scheduled for elective surgery who are identified as sarcopenic based on preoperative abdominal CT scans at the L3 vertebral level, according to established cut-off values.
Receives: Procedure: Standard Anesthesia Management
Non-SarcopenicPatients with gastrointestinal cancer scheduled for elective surgery who are identified as non-sarcopenic based on preoperative abdominal CT scans at the L3 vertebral level, according to established cut-off values.
Receives: Procedure: Standard Anesthesia Management

What is being measured

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

  1. Onset Time of Neuromuscular Block

    Time from administration of the muscle relaxant to achievement of adequate neuromuscular block, measured by Train-of-Four (TOF) monitoring.

    Measured: Intraoperative (from induction until adequate block is achieved)

  2. Depth of Neuromuscular Block (TOF Ratio)

    Intraoperative depth of neuromuscular block, continuously monitored using TOF ratio.

    Measured: Intraoperative (from induction to end of surgery)

  3. Duration of Neuromuscular Block

    Time from administration of the muscle relaxant to recovery of neuromuscular function (TOF ratio ≥ 0.9).

    Measured: Intraoperative (from muscle relaxant administration to recovery)

  4. Dose and Duration of Reversal Agent

    Total dose and time required for the reversal agent to achieve recovery from neuromuscular block.

    Measured: Intraoperative (from administration of reversal agent to recovery)

Timeline

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

  1. First posted4 Jun 2025
  2. Study start1 Jun 2025
  3. Primary completion10 Feb 2026
  4. Study completion1 Apr 2026

Resources

More details

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

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
100 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07003061
Sponsor's protocol ID
2025-05/79
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
26 May 2025
Last updated
30 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be made available upon reasonable request after publication of the study results.

Publications

  • Almeida PS, Barao K, Forones NM. SARCOPENIA AND GASTROINTESTINAL CANCER: NUTRITIONAL APPROACH FOCUSING ON CURCUMIN SUPPLEMENTATION. Arq Gastroenterol. 2025 Apr 4;62:e24068. doi: 10.1590/S0004-2803.24612024-068. eCollection 2025.

    PubMed 40197883
  • Clark BC. Neuromuscular Changes with Aging and Sarcopenia. J Frailty Aging. 2019;8(1):7-9. doi: 10.14283/jfa.2018.35.

    PubMed 30734824

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Sarcopenia, run by Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

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 4 inclusion and 8 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 30 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

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?

Onset Time of Neuromuscular Block (time frame: Intraoperative (from induction until adequate block is achieved)). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT07003061, which also lists 2 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 30 Apr 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in