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Prehabilitation in Gynaecological Cancer Patients

Prehabilitation in Patients With Gynaecological Cancer Planned for Postponed Surgical Management: A Prospective Randomised Trial.

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04789694
Acronym
PHOCUS
Enrollment
64
Registered
2021-03-09
Start date
2021-01-25
Completion date
2026-06-30
Last updated
2026-03-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Endometrial Cancer, Frailty, Ovarian Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Stage III, Ovarian Cancer Stage IV

Keywords

Prehabilitation, Epitelial ovarian cancer, Functional capacity, Quality of life, Multimodal prehabilitation, Frailty, Endometrial cancer

Brief summary

Prehabilitation refers to interventions aiming to improve patients' resilience and functional capacity before a known stressful event, e.g., scheduled surgery. These interventions usually consist of physical activity and psychological and nutritional support. There is substantial evidence of the positive effect of multimodal prehabilitation among patients treated surgically for non-gynaecological cancers; however, no prospective data are available in gynaecological cancer patients. PHOCUS trial is a prospective randomised trial aiming to evaluate the role of multimodal prehabilitation in patients with gynaecological cancer. Sixty-four patients will be randomised in single institution within 36 months with a 1:1 ratio into ARM A: control arm which will be provided with a basic information and standard of care support; ARM B: active arm undergoing multimodal prehabilitation composed of physical activity and psychological and nutritional support. All patients will be assessed at standard intervals (three times during the trial) by a spectrum of non-invasive tests, evaluating physical functional capacity, postoperative morbidity, nutritional status, level of stress and anxiety, and quality of life.

Detailed description

The objective of the trial is to evaluate the impact of intensive multimodal prehabilitation protocol on pre-operative functional capacity, postoperative morbidity, and quality of life in patients undergoing surgical treatment for gynaecological cancer. Two groups of patients scheduled for postponed surgical treatment will be eligible for the trial: i) advanced ovarian cancer patients referred for neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval debulking surgery; ii) stage I-II endometrial cancer patients classifying as frail (according to the validated modified Frailty Index), who will be treated by hormonal therapy for three months, followed by surgical treatment.

Interventions

OTHERPhysiological intervention

* Rehabilitation specialist consultation (3x) * Individualized home-based exercise plan * Functional capacity measuring

BEHAVIORALPsychological intervention

* Clinical psychologist consultation (3x) * Anxiety and depression scoring * Psychological support

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTNutritional intervention

* Nutritional specialist consultation (3x) * Malnutrition scoring * Dietary supplementation

Sponsors

Charles University, Czech Republic
Lead SponsorOTHER
University Hospital Ostrava
CollaboratorOTHER
University Hospital Olomouc
CollaboratorOTHER
University Hospital Pilsen
CollaboratorOTHER
The Faculty Hospital Na Bulovce
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Two groups of patients will be eligible for the trial: i) Epithelial ovarian cancer patients referred for NACT: a) FIGO stage III or IV disease; b) Patient is not a candidate for primary debulking surgery; c) Patient is a suitable candidate for standard of care combined chemotherapy; d) Patient is a candidate for interval.debulking surgery ii) Stage I or II endometrial cancer patients classifying as frail according to the validated modified Frailty Index: a) FIGO stage I or II; b) Patient is classified as frail; c) Patient is suitable candidate for hormonal therapy.

Exclusion criteria

1. Second malignant tumour (under the treatment) 2. Patient is not suitable for any surgery delay 3. Patient is not physically able to meet the prehabilitation intervention plan or is unable to walk

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Functional capacity changes9-12weeksSix-minute walking test (6MWT)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Postoperative morbidity9-12weeksIntraoperative and early postoperative complications until the 30th postoperative day will be classified according to the Clavien-Dindo and the Comprehensive Complication Index. Adverse events occurring after 30th postoperative day will be assessed according to NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 5.0
Length of postoperative hospital stay (days)9-12weeks
Adherence to training program9-12weeksDaily step count and number of resistance exercises per week.
Effects of nutritional support program on body composition (weight of fat and lean body mass in kg)9-12weeks
Effects of nutritional support program on resting energy expenditure (measured in kcal/kg).9-12weeks
Effects of nutritional support program on Fatty acids composition of plasmatic and erythrocytes phospholipids (measured in mol%).9-12weeks
Health-related quality of life9-12weeksThe analysis of the QoL of both study ARMs will be made based on EORTC validated questionnaires: QLQ-C30 and OV28 (for ovarian cancer patients)/ EN24 (for endometrial cancer patients. QLQ-C30 was developed by the EORTC, this self-reported questionnaire assesses the health-related quality of life of cancer patients in clinical trials. The questionnaire includes five functional scales (physical, everyday activity, cognitive, emotional, and social), three symptom scales (fatigue, pain, nausea and vomiting), a health/quality of life overall scale, and a number of additional elements assessing common symptoms (including dyspnea, loss of appetite, insomnia, constipation, and diarrhea), as well as, the perceived financial impact of the disease. The EORTC QLQ-OV28/ EN24 is used in conjunction with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and provides information on an additional 25 items specifically related to ovarian/ endometrial cancer.
Psychological health: DEPRESSION9-12weeksThe Beck Depression Inventory: a 21-item, self-report rating inventory that measures characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression.
Psychological health: ANXIETY9-12weeksThe State-Trait Anxiety Inventory: a psychological inventory consisting of 40 self-report items on a 4-point Likert scale. The STAI measures two types of anxiety - state anxiety and trait anxiety.
Psychological health: NONSPECIFIC PERCEIVED STRESS9-12weeksPerceived stress scale: psychological instrument for measuring nonspecific perceived stress (stressfulness of situations, the effectiveness of stress-reducing interventions, and the extent to which there are associations between psychological stress and psychiatric and physical disorders).
Psychological health: SPECIFIC PERCEIVED STRESS9-12weeksStress profile: questionnaire assessing the severity of stress in nine areas of life: social habits, social relationships, life events, sexual problems, sleep, psychiatric symptoms, old age, menstrual stresses, and 'stress and the heart'.

Countries

Czechia

Contacts

CONTACTJana Stribrna
jana.stribrna@vfn.cz+420 224 967 432
CONTACTStefan Lednicky, MD.
stefan.lednicky@vfn.cz
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORDavid Cibula, prof.

Charles University, Czech Republic

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 21, 2026