Lung Cancer, Surgery
Conditions
Keywords
Prehabilitation, Nutritional supplement
Brief summary
Lung cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in Canada and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Patients diagnosed at earlier (non-metastatic) stages are potential candidates for surgical tumor removal. However, they often present with poor nutritional status and physical function adding to the major catabolic stress imposed by surgery that negatively impacts recovery and survival after surgery. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential benefits of a prehabilitation program that includes a combined nutritional supplement (whey protein, leucine, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids) with exercise and relaxation techniques for 4 weeks before surgery and continued for 8 weeks after surgery on functional pre- and postoperative outcomes, versus standard hospital care (control). Investigators will study whether the prehabilitation program improves physical performance, muscle mass and quality of life in patients undergoing lung cancer resection. The specific objective of this pilot study is to test feasibility and adherence to intervention, and generate pilot data to inform the design of a larger trial.
Detailed description
RATIONALE: The preoperative period is an opportune time to actively engage and empower patients in improving their functional, nutritional and mental status in anticipation of the surgical stress. Considering that lung cancer patients often present with poor nutritional status and physical function prior to surgery providing a nutritional supplement to increase protein, leucine, vitamin D and omega-3 FA intake with a structured exercise program and relaxation techniques should improve muscle mass, strength and physical performance. MAIN OBJECTIVE: to test the effect of a multimodal prehabilitation intervention (MM) combining a mixed-nutrient supplement with structured exercise training against standard of care (SOC), on functional pre- and postoperative outcomes in surgical patients with lung cancer, in an open-label RCT. The present is a pilot study aiming to generate feasibility data (recruitment rate, compliance, attrition) and preliminary outcome data to support a larger trial. STUDY DESIGN: Open-label, randomized, controlled trial of two parallel arms: multimodal intervention (MM) and standard of care (SOC). After baseline assessment, patients will be randomized to either group in a 1:2 SOC:MM ratio using a computer-generated randomization scheme by block of four, with stratification by sex and functional capacity (\< or \> 400 m on the 6MWT). Consecutive adult patients scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracic surgery or open thoracotomy surgery of NSCLC stages I, II or IIIa, will be approached following their first appointment with their surgeon at the MUHC-Montreal General Hospital. INTERVENTION: The EXP arm will ingest a multi-nutrient supplement consisting of whey protein + leucine and fish oil + vitamin D, perform structured exercise and relaxation techniques for 4 weeks prior to surgery and 8 weeks after surgery. Control group will received standard hospital care and education on benefits of physical activity and healthy diet. Outcome assessment will be performed at baseline, preoperative, 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively. OUTCOMES: Primary: feasibility; Secondary: physical function, muscle strength, volume and density, body composition, quality of life, length of stay and post-operative complications; Other: dietary intake, physical activity, clinical markers. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: This is a pilot study designed to generate data on feasibility and compliance to the intervention and study tests; it is not powered for identifying statistical differences in the main outcomes. The investigators will recruit 36 participants on a 1:2 ratio (12 SOC: 24 MM).
Interventions
Exercise: Moderate intensity resistance and aerobic exercise, including one weekly supervised session and a home-based program. Participants were asked to 1) accumulate 30 min of aerobic exercise per day of their preferred type (ex. walking) and 2) perform 30 min of resistance exercise targeting major muscle groups, every second day for 2 sets of 8-12 reps. Nutrition: Optimize diet with protein-rich foods to meet protein intake of \>1.2 g/kg/d and energy of 25-30 kcal/kg/d. The supplement consists of whey protein isolate (with the goal of reaching 1.5 g/kg/d, providing 25 g/meal), 6g of leucine, fruit-flavored fish oil added with vitamin D. Relaxation strategies: private consultations with psychology-trained personnel whereby techniques aimed at reducing anxiety are practiced. Participants are also provided with a compact disc with relaxation exercises to be used at home 2-3 times per week.
Sponsors
Study design
Intervention model description
Open-label, randomized, controlled trial of two parallel arms: multimodal intervention (MM) and standard of care (SOC).
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* adult men and women with NSCLC stages I, II or IIIa, planned for video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) or open thoracotomy surgery for cancer resection or exploration.
Exclusion criteria
* prior recent (\<3 mo) chemotherapy, comorbidities contraindicating exercise (defined as CPET \<10 mL O2/kg/min), walking aids other than a cane, glomerular filtration rate \<30 mL/min/m2, allergy to milk or seafoods, chronic use of anti-coagulants, hypercalcemia, hypervitaminosis D, insufficient understanding of English or French language to provide informed consent. All medications and co-morbidities will be recorded. Patients taking vitamin D will continue their supplements; risk of potential overdosing will be monitored by serum 25(OH)D levels \>80 nmol/L. Those taking n-3 FA supplements will be asked to withhold during the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility: Recruitment rate | Over entire recruitment period (approximately 1 year) | Recruitment rate (measured in percent, compared to expected rates) |
| Feasibility: Adherence to intervention | Over 12 weeks (4 weeks pre- and 8 weeks post-surgery) | Adherence to exercise and nutritional interventions (measured in percent, compared to expected rates) |
| Feasibility: completion of study outcome assessment | Over 12 weeks (4 weeks pre- and 8 weeks post-surgery) | Completion of study outcome assessments (measured in percent, compared to expected rates) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Health related quality of life | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Measured by the cumulative score of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, score 0-100, higher score means better quality of life. |
| Quality of Life | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Measured by cumulative score of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Lung questionnaires, score 0-136, higher means better quality of life. |
| Muscle strength - handgrip | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Handgrip strength using hand-held Jamar dynamometer, measured in kg. |
| Post-operative complications | 8-week postoperative | Recorded from medical charts and will be graded by severity following the Clavien-Dindo classification. |
| Muscle volume | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Skeletal muscle volume will be measured in the dominant foreleg, using peripheral quantitative CT (pQCT, Stratec XCT2000). |
| Muscle radiodensity | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Skeletal muscle density will be measured in the dominant foreleg, using peripheral quantitative CT (pQCT, Stratec XCT2000). |
| Body composition | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Lean and fat mass will be measured by bioelectrical impedance (InBody 230V) |
| Muscle strength - leg | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Isokinetic leg strength (knee extension peak torque) using Biodex, measured in N, on the dominant side. |
| Functional walking capacity | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Six-minute walking test: measured as the distance walked during 6 minutes, along a 20-m corridor, expressed in m) |
| Length of hospital stay | 8-week postoperative | Recorded from medical charts |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pulmonary function (FEF 25-75%) | Baseline and 4-week postoperative | Spirometry standard methods to measure FEF 25-75 percent. |
| Physical activity | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire, score 0 - x (no maximum score), higher mean more activity |
| Dietary assessment | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Collected using 2 and 3-day food diaries. |
| Nutritional status | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). In general, the higher total additive scores upon initial exam correlates with more severely malnourished cases (A = well nourished, B = moderately malnourished or suspected malnutrition and C = severely malnourished). |
| Anxiety/depression | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (questionnaire). Scoring for each item ranges from zero to three. A subscale score \>8 denotes anxiety or depression. |
| Plasma phospholipid n-3 FA profile | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Plasma lipids will be extracted with organic solvents, phospholipids isolated on thin-layer chromatography, and FAs methylated for determination by gas chromatography-flame-ionization analysis. Used as an objective measure of adherence to fish oil. |
| Serum 25(OH)D | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Concentrations will be measured by the MUHC-Central Lab. Used as an objective measure of adherence to the supplement. |
| Inflammation | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Will be assessed with serum C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) by MUHC-Central Lab. |
| Serum albumin | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Will be analyzed as standard procedures by the MUHC-Central Lab. |
| Pre-albumin | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Will be analyzed as standard procedures by the MUHC-Central Lab. |
| Hemoglobin | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Will be analyzed as standard procedures by the MUHC-Central Lab. |
| Exercise tolerance - oxygen consumption | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Assessed using cardiopulmonary exercise testing and measuring oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold and peak exercise |
| Exercise tolerance - workload | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing at anaerobic threshold and peak exercise |
| Exercise tolerance - heart rate | Baseline, preoperative, 4-week postoperative and 8-week postoperative | Assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing and measured at anaerobic threshold and peak exercise |
| Pulmonary function (FEV1) | Baseline and 4-week postoperative | Spirometry standard methods to measure FEV1. |
| Pulmonary function (FVC) | Baseline and 4-week postoperative | Spirometry standard methods to measure FVC. |
| Pulmonary function (FEV1/FVC) | Baseline and 4-week postoperative | Spirometry standard methods to measure the FEV1/FVC ratio. |
Countries
Canada