An interventional study of Prehabilitation Program in Rectal Cancer, Colorectal Cancer and Rectal Cancer Stage II, sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Recruiting at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-30.
Sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of a prehabilitation program for participants diagnosed with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation, followed by surgical resection.
The names of the groups in this research study are:
This is a non-blinded, randomized control trial to determine the feasibility of a hybrid-model, prehabilitation program for participants diagnosed with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant therapy (chemotherapy and/or radiation) before surgical resection. Investigators hope that prehabilitation will result in improved outcomes after surgery.
Participants will be randomized into one of the study groups: Group A: prehabilitation program, or Group B: usual care. Randomization means that a participant is placed into a group by chance.
The research study procedures include screening for eligibility, in-clinic visits, physical exams, exercise training, blood tests, and questionnaires.
It is expected that about 40 participants will take part in this research study.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio using a permuted blocked design and stratified by neoadjuvant therapy received. Participants will complete the following: * In-clinic baseline visit with assessments * Virtual exercise sessions 3 days per week for 4 weeks. * IMN supplementation and daily multivitamin starting at 4 weeks of the preoperative phase. * Resection surgery per standard of care * In-clinic 30 day postoperative visit.
Behavioral: Prehabilitation Program
Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio using a permuted blocked design and stratified by neoadjuvant therapy received. Participants will complete the following: * In-clinic baseline visit with assessments * Resection surgery per standard of care * In-clinic 30 day postoperative visit * After completion of the study period, participants will be offered exercise equipment with an exercise instruction booklet.
A hybrid-based, prehabilitation regimen comprised of nutritional optimization (multivitamin and protein supplement shake) and virtual, aerobic and resistance exercise sessions with clinical exercise physiologists. Virtual exercise sessions will be performed via a HIPAA-compliant videoconferencing platform or by phone call. Mini-exercise cycle ergometer, dumbbells, and resistance bands will be provided and delivered to participant. Heart rate monitors and wi-fi enable tablet will be provided if needed.
Enrollment Rate
The proportion of eligible individuals that are enrolled to the study. Feasibility of the intervention is defined as an enrollment rate of greater than 10% of approached, eligible participants.
Time frame: Baseline
Adherence Rate to the Prehabilitation Program
The number of intervention assessments completed by participants in Group A. Feasibility of the intervention is defined as at least 50% of participants adhering to at least 50% of the prescribed assessments of the prehabilitation program.
Time frame: At post-intervention (approximately Week 4)
Completion Rate of Physical Function Testing (Group A)
Defined as the number of testing assessments (resting blood pressure, measure of cardiorespiratory fitness, Short Physical Performance Battery, muscular strength, and anthropometric measures) completed by participants.
Time frame: At post-intervention (approximately Week 4)
Completion Rate of Physical Function Testing (Group B)
Defined as the number of testing assessments (resting blood pressure, measure of cardiorespiratory fitness, Short Physical Performance Battery, muscular strength, and anthropometric measures) completed by participants.
Time frame: At post-intervention (approximately Week 4)
Completion Rate of Questionnaire Assessments
Defined as the number of questionnaires completed by all participants.
Time frame: At baseline and the postoperative visit (approximately Week 9)
Participant Fall Rate (Group A)
Defined as the number of falls attributable to the exercise and nutrition components of the intervention.
Time frame: At post-intervention (approximately Week 4)
Participant Fall Rate (Group B)
Defined as the number of falls attributable to the exercise and nutrition components of the intervention.
Time frame: At post-intervention (approximately Week 4)
Rate of Hospitalization (Group A)
Defined as the number of hospitalizations attributable to the exercise and nutrition components of the intervention.
Time frame: At post-intervention (approximately Week 4)
Rate of Hospitalization (Group B)
Defined as the number of hospitalizations attributable to the exercise and nutrition components of the intervention.
Time frame: At post-intervention (approximately Week 4)
Rate of Musculoskeletal Injury (Group A)
Defined as the number of musculoskeletal injuries attributable to the exercise and nutrition components of the intervention.
Time frame: At post-intervention (approximately Week 4)
Rate of Musculoskeletal Injury (Group B)
Defined as the number of musculoskeletal injuries attributable to the exercise and nutrition components of the intervention.
Time frame: At post-intervention (approximately Week 4)
Change in Resting Blood Pressure from Baseline to Post-Intervention
Assessed by resting blood pressure. The average systolic blood pressure (of two measurements from each arm) will be recorded.
Time frame: From baseline to post-operative visit (approximately week 9)
Change in Cardiorespiratory Fitness from Baseline to Post-Intervention
Assessed by VO2peak by a graded maximal (or submaximal if equipment is unavailable) cycle exercise stress test. VO2peak is defined as the highest values of oxygen uptake averaged among every 30-second interval during the test. VO2peak will be reported in both relative (ml·kg-1·min-1) and absolute (L/min) terms.
Time frame: From baseline to post-operative visit (approximately week 9)
Change in Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) Score from Baseline to Post-Intervention
Assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) which is comprised of three sections: 1) balance with feet together, semi tandem, and full tandem is held for up to 10 seconds with no support and measure in seconds. Scores are summed for the measure of balance for a range of 0 to 30 seconds; 2) usual gait speed over four meters is timed (seconds); and 3) chair stand where the time(s) to complete five chair sit-to-stands is recorded. Each of the three performance measures is assigned a score ranging from 0 to 4, with 4 indicating highest level of performance and 0 indicating inability to complete test. A summary score ranging from 0 (worst performers) to 12 (best performers) is calculated by adding walking speed, chair stands and balance scores.
Time frame: From baseline to post-operative visit (approximately week 9)
Change in Muscle Strength from Baseline to Post-Intervention
The 1RM (repetition maximum) will be estimated from 10RM muscle strength tests on two exercises: 1) leg press, 2) chest press. 1RM values will be calculated and reported using validated equations.
Time frame: From baseline to post-operative visit (approximately week 9)
Change in Height from Baseline to Post-Intervention
Height will be measured using a stadiometer, rounding up to the nearest 0.1 cm
Time frame: From baseline to post-operative visit (approximately week 9)
Change in Weight from Baseline to Post-Intervention
Assessed by weight, rounding up to the nearest 0.1 kg.
Time frame: From baseline to post-operative visit (approximately week 9)
Change in Waist Circumference from Baseline to Post-Intervention
Waist circumference will be measured, rounding up to the nearest 0.1cm.
Time frame: From baseline to post-operative visit (approximately week 9)
Change in Hip Circumference from Baseline to Post-Intervention
Hip circumference will be measured, rounding up to the nearest 0.1cm.
Time frame: From baseline to post-operative visit (approximately week 9)
Change in Body Mass Index from Baseline to Post-Intervention
Body composition will be assessed via bioelectrical impedance using a validated device. The device will estimate body fat using an algorithm based on participant age, sex, height, and body weight.
Time frame: From baseline to post-operative visit (approximately week 9)
Change in Nutritional Status from Baseline to Post-Surgery (Group A)
Assessed by the Perioperative Nutrition Score (PONS), a validated screening questionnaire that assists in determining risk of malnutrition in the perioperative setting. This is assessed via 1) Body mass index (BMI), which can be calculated through the participant's anthropomorphic measurements, 2) self-reported unplanned changes in weight or decrease in dietary intake, or 3) preoperative albumin level.
Time frame: From baseline to postoperative visit, up to 9 weeks
Change in Nutritional Status from Baseline to Post-Surgery (Group B)
Assessed by the Perioperative Nutrition Score (PONS), a validated screening questionnaire that assists in determining risk of malnutrition in the perioperative setting. This is assessed via 1) Body mass index (BMI), which can be calculated through the participant's anthropomorphic measurements, 2) self-reported unplanned changes in weight or decrease in dietary intake, or 3) preoperative albumin level.
Time frame: From baseline to postoperative visit, up to 9 weeks
Change in Quality of Life from Baseline to Post-Surgery (Group A)
Assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer's (EORTC's) Quality of Life (QOL) core questionnaire (QLQ C-30), a validated, 30-item instrument designed to quantify and measure QOL in cancer participants. Questions are rated on a four point scale from 1 "Not at all" to 4 "Very much. All items have a score range from 0 to 100 points. A higher score represents better function and a higher quality of life.
Time frame: From baseline to postoperative visit, up to 9 weeks
Change in Quality of Life from Baseline to Post-Surgery (Group B)
Assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a 19 question measure of 7 domains of sleep quality and patterns of sleep. The 19 self-rated items are combined to form 7 component scores, each of which has a range of 0 to 3 points with a 0 indicating no difficulty and 3 indicating severe difficulty. The 7 component scores are added to yield a total score with a range of 0 to 21 points. A total score of 5 or greater is indicative of poor sleep quality.
Time frame: From baseline to postoperative visit, up to 9 weeks
Change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Score from Baseline to Post-Surgery (Group A)
Assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a 19 question measure of 7 domains of sleep quality and patterns of sleep. The 19 self-rated items are combined to form 7 component scores, each of which has a range of 0 to 3 points with a 0 indicating no difficulty and 3 indicating severe difficulty. The 7 component scores are added to yield a total score with a range of 0 to 21 points. A total score of 5 or greater is indicative of poor sleep quality.
Time frame: From baseline to postoperative visit, up to 9 weeks
Change in PSQI Score from Baseline to Post-Surgery (Group B)
Assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a 19 question measure of 7 domains of sleep quality and patterns of sleep. The 19 self-rated items are combined to form 7 component scores, each of which has a range of 0 to 3 points with a 0 indicating no difficulty and 3 indicating severe difficulty. The 7 component scores are added to yield a total score with a range of 0 to 21 points. A total score of 5 or greater is indicative of poor sleep quality.
Time frame: From baseline to postoperative visit, up to 9 weeks
Change in Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) Score from Baseline to Post-Surgery (Group A)
Assessed by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), which consists of 9 questions assessing specific domains including comorbidity, function, and cognition to generate a frailty score ranging from 1 (very fit) to 9 (terminally ill).
Time frame: From baseline to postoperative visit, up to 9 weeks
Change in Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) Score from Baseline to Post-Surgery (Group B)
Assessed by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), which consists of 9 questions assessing specific domains including comorbidity, function, and cognition to generate a frailty score ranging from 1 (very fit) to 9 (terminally ill).
Time frame: From baseline to postoperative visit, up to 9 weeks
Length of Hospitalization Post-Surgery (Group A)
Defined as the number of days of hospitalization post-surgery.
Time frame: 30 Days
Length of Hospitalization Post-Surgery (Group B)
Defined as the number of days of hospitalization post-surgery.
Time frame: 30 Days
Time To Return of Bowel Function Post-Surgery (Group A)
Defined as the number of days to a return of bowl function post-surgery.
Time frame: 30 Days
Time To Return of Bowel Function Post-Surgery (Group B)
Defined as the number of days to a return of bowl function post-surgery.
Time frame: 30 Days
Discharge Disposition (Group B)
Defined as participant disposition post-surgery: discharge to home, inpatient rehabilitation facility, or other. Data will be summarized using descriptive statistics.
Time frame: 30 Days
Discharge Disposition (Group A)
Defined as participant disposition post-surgery: discharge to home, inpatient rehabilitation facility, or other. Data will be summarized using descriptive statistics.
Time frame: 30 Days
Plan to share: Yes — The Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center encourages and supports the responsible and ethical sharing of data from clinical trials. De-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript may only be shared under the terms of a Data Use Agreement. Requests may be directed to: \[contact information for Sponsor Investigator or designee\]. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap
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