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TerminatedNCT02774551Updated Dec 14, 2020

Physical Activity Intervention Trial to Mitigate Muscle Loss and Increase Muscle Strength

An interventional study of Physical activity intervention group in Oesophageal Cancer, sponsored by Karolinska Institutet. Terminated at 1 site in Sweden. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-12-14.

Sponsored by Karolinska Institutet · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was terminated
Closed for recruitment March 2020 due to the ongoing covid-19 situation and the termination of the study inclusion was done in August 2020.

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 3 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jan 2016, registered Apr 2016).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
162
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This intervention study will be conducted on patients included in a nationwide and prospective cohort, The Oesophageal Surgery in Cancer patients: Adaptation and Recovery study (OSCAR). The OSCAR includes patients operated on for oesophageal cancer in Sweden between 2013-2018, identified through pathology departments and included in the cohort 1 year after surgery. A comprehensive interview is conducted by a research nurse during a home visit using patient reported outcomes on several HRQOL, psychosocial, emotional and nutritional aspects. Regular follow-ups are carried out at 1½, 2, 2½, 3, 4 and 5 years postoperatively.

All patients within OSCAR are invited to the intervention trial. Half of the eligible patients will be randomised to intervention and half to standard care (control group) by means of block randomisation method. The intervention group will be encouraged to adhere to a physical activity regimen of 150 minutes of weekly minimum intensity activities and 5 simple strength training exercises twice a week as instructed by the research nurse. The control group will follow their routine daily physical activity. HRQOL measures, height and weight, body composition, muscle strength, functional mobility and strength, and dietary intake are assessed before and after the intervention. Compliance will be ensured by means of a daily physical activity dairy and a weekly follow up on telephone with all patients.

02

Conditions studied

  • Oesophageal Cancer

Keywords

  • Body composition
  • Muscle strength
  • Health related quality of life
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In context

Lead sponsor

Karolinska Institutet is the lead sponsor of 1,113 studies on the registry; 267 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • All patients from the nationwide prospective cohort the Oesophageal Surgery in Cancer patients: Adaptation and Recovery study (OSCAR) with willingness to participate

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current malignancies or co-morbidities, psychological or social conditions that prevent participation
  • Patients with pacemakers; cochlear or other electrical implants cannot be screened using the bio-impedance scale for safety reasons
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
162 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Physical activity intervention group

    The physical activity program includes 150 minutes of minimum intensity activity during a week (e.g. walking, swimming) and five strength training exercises (10 repetitions and 2 sets of: squats, wall push ups, rowing with resistance band, shoulder press with resistance band, hip abduction) targeting the major muscle groups to do twice a week are demonstrated by the research nurse. The resistance training is progressive by increasing resistance in the band based on patient's adaptability during the intervention.

    Behavioral: Physical activity intervention group

  • No intervention
    Standard care control group

    Patients follow their routine daily physical activity.

Interventions

  • BehavioralPhysical activity intervention group

    150 minutes of minimum intensity activity during a week (e.g. walking, swimming) and five strength training exercises (10 repetitions and 2 sets of: squats, wall push ups, rowing with resistance band, shoulder press with resistance band, hip abduction) targeting the major muscle groups to do twice a week.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of participants with treatment related increase in muscle mass as assessed by a bio-impedance body composition scale.

    The main outcome measure will be increase in skeletal muscle mass using a bio-impedance analysis portable monitor. Changes occurring during the period just before and just after the 12-weeks intervention programme, or standard of care in the comparison group, will be compared between the intervention group.

    Time frame: At baseline and after the 12 weeks intervention/control programme.

  2. Number of participants with treatment related increase in muscle strength as assessed by a hand grip dynamometer and chair stand test.

    The main outcome measure will be increase in skeletal muscle strength using a handgrip dynamometer and 30 second sit stand test. Changes occurring during the period just before and just after the 12-weeks intervention programme, or standard of care in the comparison group, will be compared between the intervention group.

    Time frame: At baseline and after the 12 weeks intervention/control programme.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of participants with improvement in physical function scale of health related quality of life as assessed from the questionnaire - European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC); Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) - C30.

    This secondary outcome will assess the physical function scale of HRQOL using EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: At baseline and after the12 weeks intervention/control programme.

  2. Number of participants with improvement in fatigue scale of health related quality of life as assessed from the questionnaire - EORTC QLQ-FA13.

    This secondary outcome will assess the fatigue scale of HRQOL using EORTC fatigue questionnaire QLQ-FA13 before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: At baseline and after the12 weeks intervention/control programme.

  3. Number of participants with improvement in appetite loss function of health related quality of life as assessed from the oesophageal disease specific module - EORTC QLQ-OG25.

    This secondary outcome will assess the appetite loss function of HRQOL using EORTC QLQ-OG25 questionnaire before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: At baseline and after the12 weeks intervention/control programme.

  4. Number of participants with improvement in eating difficulties scale of health related quality of life as assessed from the cachexia module of EORTC - QLQ-CAX24.

    This secondary outcome will assess the eating difficulties scale of HRQOL using EORTC QLQ-CAX24 questionnaire before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: At baseline and after the12 weeks intervention/control programme.

  5. Number of participants with improvement in psycho social issues as assessed from the questionnaire - Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

    This secondary outcome will assess the psychosocial issues using HADS questionnaire before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: At baseline and after the12 weeks intervention/control programme.

  6. Number of participants with improvement in physical activity level measured using the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ).

    This secondary outcome shall include changes in the total physical activity level measured using the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: At baseline and after the 12 weeks intervention/control programme.

  7. Number of participants with improvement in dietary intake measured using 3 day food diary.

    This secondary outcome shall include changes in dietary intake measured using food dairy measured thrice a week: two weekdays and 1 weekend day before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: Just before (baseline) and just after (final follow up) the 12 weeks intervention programme.

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Study locations

1 site
  • Surgical cares sciences, Karolinksa Institutet
    Stockholm, Sweden
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References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 14, 2020, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02774551
Lead sponsor
Karolinska Institutet
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
May 17, 2016
Start date
Jan 2016
Primary completion
Jun 2020
Completion
Jun 2020
Last update
Dec 14, 2020

Study contacts

Pernilla Lagergren, Professor
principal investigator · Karolinska Institutet

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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