Although some studies have focused on the role of exercise on inflammation and cytokine expression in cancer patients undergoing treatment and survivors, to our knowledge none have investigated the effect of exercise during neoadjuvant treatment as a complementary therapy to 1) modulate inflammation which may have a positive influence on chemotherapy response and 2) preserve or improve skeletal muscle, thus preventing cancer cachexia. Furthermore, we believe that the neoadjuvant treatment period could be a window of opportunity to optimize patient's nutritional status before surgery, which until now has been under used. Bearing in mind that nutritional interventions may also influence IL-6, our hypothesis is that a Combined Exercise and Dietary Intervention (CEDI) may induce positive alterations in cytokine profile and increase NK cell infiltration of the tumor in gastric and pancreatic cancer patients submitted to neo-adjuvant therapy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
68
The exercise program will be planned by an exercise physiologist and implemented by physiotherapists prior to rehabilitation physician assessment. In the first session patients will be evaluated by physiotherapist in order to allow personalization of exercise according to patient's age and functional capacity. In regard to diet, written materials will be given to patients and caregivers, namely a dietary plan, standard menus, recipes, and standard portions information.
Standard Care
Hospital Beatriz Ângelo
Loures, Lisbon District, Portugal
RECRUITINGHospital da Luz
Lisbon, Portugal
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGMean Change in interleukin 6 (IL6)
IL6 circulating levels will be determined before and after combined exercise and dietary intervention (CEDI)
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Immune cell infiltration profile on tumor specimen
Peri-tumoral cell distribution (NK cells, T cells) will be determined before and after combined exercise and dietary intervention (CEDI)
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in skeletal muscle
Skeletal muscle using CT scan body composition analysis will be assessed before and after combined exercise and dietary intervention (CEDI)
Time frame: 8 weeks
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