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Postoperative Exercise Training and Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis

Post-Operative Exercise Training in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05579340
Acronym
POET-mCRC
Enrollment
66
Registered
2022-10-13
Start date
2023-04-18
Completion date
2028-06-01
Last updated
2026-02-24

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

Conditions

Cancer Colorectal, Cancer Metastatic to Liver

Brief summary

Up to 25% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients are diagnosed with liver metastases, which is the most common site of metastasis, already during the primary tumor diagnosis. Another 30% of the patients will develop liver metastases at a later stage. Even though patient can be treated by surgical resection of the metastatic tumor, 50-75% of the patients experience a relapse in less than two years. Due to the high probability of relapse, mCRC patients undergo multiple rounds of surgery and adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy/radiotherapy) which results in substantial physical de-conditioning. Physical activity has been shown to increase the progression-free survival rates in mCRC patients, when applied post-diagnosis. Increased cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) at the time of diagnosis among CRC individuals has been associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality. Although data on the effect of chronic exercise on VO2peak have emerged, thus far, there is no randomized clinical trial that has investigated the effects of exercise training in mCRC patients early after surgical treatment with curative intent. Therefore, this project aims to address the beneficial effect of structured exercise training primarily on VO2peak and tumor recurrence in mCRC patients immediately after surgical treatment and while they are undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy. A total of 66 participants will be recruited from the Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Rigshospitalet and randomly allocated to a standard care control group (n=22), standard care plus 150 min/week exercise training (n=22) or standard care plus 300 min/week exercise training (n=22). Participants will undergo exercise training for 6 months, starting immediately after surgery, and they will be followed for additional 6 months. Tumor recurrence will be evaluated up to 3 years after training initiation.

Interventions

OTHERExercise

6 months of combined aerobic and resistance exercise

Sponsors

Rigshospitalet, Denmark
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Colorectal cancer patients diagnosed with liver metastasis and scheduled for liver metastasis surgical resection

Exclusion criteria

* Age \<18 * Pregnancy * Physical or mental disabilities that prohibit execution of test or training procedures * Inability to understand the Danish language.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak)Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in VO2peak assessed during an incremental exercise test to volitional exhaustion on a bicycle ergometer

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in Body composition and anthropometrics: Total lean massBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in total lean mass assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
3-years recurrence-free survivalRandomization to 3 years after randomizationProportion of patients who survive without relapse (formation of new tumors) for the 3-year period
3-years overall survivalRandomization to 3 years after randomizationProportion of patients who are alive 3 years after randomization
Changes in Aerobic Capacity: Ventilatory thresholdBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in ventilatory threshold assessed during an incremental exercise test to volitional exhaustion on a bicycle ergometer
Changes in Aerobic Capacity: Peak power outputBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in peak power output assessed during an incremental exercise test to volitional exhaustion on a bicycle ergometer
Changes in Muscle strength: Hand grip strengthBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in hand grip strength, assessed using a dynamometer
Changes in Muscle strength: Leg press maximal muscle strengthBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in leg press one repetition maximum (1RM)
Changes in Functional performance: Habitual gait speedBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in habitual gait speed
Changes in Functional performance: Maximal gait speedBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in maximal gait speed
Changes in Functional performance: Stair climbing performanceBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in time required to climb a specific staircase
Changes in Functional performance: 30 seconds Sit-to-standBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in the number of stands from sitting position that can be performed during 30 seconds
Changes in Body composition and anthropometrics: Total fat massBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in total fat mass assessed by DXA
Changes in Body composition and anthropometrics: Bone mineral densityBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in bone mineral density assessed by DXA
Changes in Body composition and anthropometrics: Waist circumferenceBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in waist circumference
Changes in Body composition and anthropometrics: Hip circumferenceBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in Hip circumference
Changes in Systolic Blood pressureBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting systolic blood pressure
Changes in Diastolic Blood pressureBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting diastolic blood pressure
Changes in Heart rateBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting heart rate
Changes in Blood biochemistry: leukocyte differential countsBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting leukocyte differential counts (total and per type \[eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils\])
Changes in Blood biochemistry: C-reactive proteinBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting C-reactive protein levels in blood
Changes in Blood biochemistry: InsulinBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting insulin blood levels
Changes in Blood biochemistry: GlucoseBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting glucose blood levels
Changes in Blood biochemistry: TriglyceridesBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting triglycerides blood levels
Changes in Blood biochemistry: LDL-CholesterolBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting LDL-cholesterol blood levels
Changes in Blood biochemistry: HDL-CholesterolBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting HDL-cholesterol blood levels
Changes in Cytokine levels in blood: Interleukin-6Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting Interleukin-6 blood levels
Changes in Cytokine levels in blood: Interleukin-1Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting Interleukin-1 blood levels
Changes in Cytokine levels in blood: Interleukin-7Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting Interleukin-7 blood levels
Changes in Cytokine levels in blood: Interleukin-8Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting Interleukin-8 blood levels
Changes in Cytokine levels in blood: Interleukin-15Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting Interleukin-15 blood levels
Changes in Cytokine levels in blood: Interleukin-1βBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting Interleukin-1β blood levels
Changes in Cytokine levels in blood: Interleukin-10Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting Interleukin-10 blood levels
Changes in Cytokine levels in blood: Tumor-necrosis-factor alpha (TNFalpha)Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting TNFalpha blood levels
Changes in Cytokine levels in blood: Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma)Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting IFN-gamma blood levels
Changes in Immune cells in blood: Natural killer (NK) cellsBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting NK cells
Changes in Immune cells in blood: CD4 T cellsBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting CD4 T cells
Changes in Immune cells in blood: CD8 T cellsBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting CD8 T cells
Changes in Immune cells in blood: B cellsBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting B cells
Changes in OsteonectinBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in resting osteonectin blood levels
Changes in Patient-reported symptomatic adverse eventsBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationPatient-reported symptomatic adverse events, assessed using the using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE)
Changes in Health-related quality of life: Physical well-beingBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported physical well-being assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal (FACT-C) (scale scoring 0-28, the higher the score the better quality of life)
Changes in Health-related quality of life: Social well-beingBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported social well-being assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal (FACT-C) (scale scoring 0-28, the higher the score the better quality of life)
Changes in Health-related quality of life: Emotional well-beingBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported emotional well-being assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal (FACT-C) (scale scoring 0-24, the higher the score the better quality of life)
Changes in Health-related quality of life: Functional well-beingBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported functional well-being assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal (FACT-C) (scale scoring 0-28, the higher the score the better quality of life)
Changes in Health-related quality of life: GeneralBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported general health-related qualify of life assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal (FACT-C) (scale scoring 0-108, the higher the score the better quality of life)
Changes in Health-related quality of life: Colorectal cancer specificBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported colorectal-cancer specific health-related quality of life assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal (FACT-C) (scale scoring 0-28, the higher the score the better quality of life)
Changes in Health-related quality of life: total scoreBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported in health-related quality of life (total score) assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal (FACT-C) (scale scoring 0-136, the higher the score the better quality of life)
Changes in Health-related quality of life: Trial outcome indexBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported trial outcome index assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal (FACT-C) (scale scoring 0-84, the higher the score the better quality of life)
Changes in Health-related quality of life: FatigueBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported fatigue assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Fatigue scale (FACIT-Fatigue) (scale score: 0-52, the higher the score the less fatigue)
Changes in DepressionBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported depression, assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (scale scoring: 0-21, the higher the score the worse the condition)
Changes in AnxietyBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported anxiety, assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (scale scoring: 0-21, the higher the score the worse the condition)
Changes in Physical activity: WalkingBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported weekly duration of walking, assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
Changes in Physical activity: Moderate intensity physical activityBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported weekly duration of moderate intensity physical activity, assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
Changes in Physical activity: Vigorous intensity physical activityBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported weekly duration of vigorous intensity physical activity, assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
Changes in Physical activity: Total intensity physical activityBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported weekly duration of total intensity physical activity, assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (Expressed as metabolic equivalent (MET)-min per week: MET level x minutes of activity x events per week)
Changes in Physical activity: sitting timeBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 24- and 36 months after exercise training initiationChanges in patient-reported weekly sitting time, assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
Changes in Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)Baseline, 6-, and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in ctDNA in blood
Changes in DNA methylationBaseline, 6-, and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in DNA methylation derived from blood
Changes in treatment tolerance: Relative dose intensity (RDI) of adjuvant chemotherapyFrom date of planned initiation to end of adjuvant chemotherapyRDI (%) of adjuvant chemotherapy, calculated as the actual dose intensity / standard dose intensity x 100%
Postoperative hospital admissionsFrom discharge to 12 months after exercise training initiationIncidence of postoperative hospital re-admissions, defined as any non-scheduled ≥ 24 h hospitalization
Changes in Body composition and anthropometrics: Body massBaseline, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12 months after exercise training initiationChanges in body mass
Postoperative complicationsFrom discharge to 30 days after dischargeIncidence of postoperative complications up to 30 days after surgery (total and by grade and type), assessed using the Clavien-Dindo classification

Countries

Denmark

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORCasper Simonsen, PhD

Group Leader

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 25, 2026