Favil Singh1, Robert U Newton2, Michael K Baker3, Nigel A Spry4, Dennis R Taaffe2, Daniel A Galvão5. 1. School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia; Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia. Electronic address: f.singh@ecu.edu.au. 2. School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia; Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia. 3. Boden Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 4. Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia; Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia. 5. Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Localized rectal carcinoma is invasive, with surgical resection the standard treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of a supervised presurgical exercise intervention in patients with rectal cancer prior to rectal resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients volunteered to undertake twice-weekly aerobic and resistance exercise for ∼16 weeks prior to surgery. At baseline, presurgery, and ∼8 weeks postsurgery, muscle strength and physical performance, body composition, quality of life, and fatigue were assessed. RESULTS: Ten patients completed training, with 80% completing more than one-half of the exercise sessions. Muscle strength improved 9% to 29% at presurgery, although this was not statistically significant, and declined postsurgery (P < .05). Importantly, postsurgery strength levels were comparable with pretraining levels. Lean mass was preserved at presurgery despite neoadjuvant chemoradiation treatment, whereas postsurgery lean mass decreased (P < .05) compared with baseline (-3.2 ± 5.4 kg) and presurgery (-3.7 ± 5.4 kg). There were no substantial changes in quality of life or fatigue. CONCLUSION: Presurgical exercise is feasible, leading to modest improvements in some outcomes despite chemoradiation treatment. The detrimental effects of surgery were evident, especially in relation to lean mass. As such, exercise may facilitate recovery by enhancing presurgery physical reserve capacity, thereby providing a buffer to declines following surgery.
BACKGROUND: Localized rectal carcinoma is invasive, with surgical resection the standard treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of a supervised presurgical exercise intervention in patients with rectal cancer prior to rectal resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients volunteered to undertake twice-weekly aerobic and resistance exercise for ∼16 weeks prior to surgery. At baseline, presurgery, and ∼8 weeks postsurgery, muscle strength and physical performance, body composition, quality of life, and fatigue were assessed. RESULTS: Ten patients completed training, with 80% completing more than one-half of the exercise sessions. Muscle strength improved 9% to 29% at presurgery, although this was not statistically significant, and declined postsurgery (P < .05). Importantly, postsurgery strength levels were comparable with pretraining levels. Lean mass was preserved at presurgery despite neoadjuvant chemoradiation treatment, whereas postsurgery lean mass decreased (P < .05) compared with baseline (-3.2 ± 5.4 kg) and presurgery (-3.7 ± 5.4 kg). There were no substantial changes in quality of life or fatigue. CONCLUSION: Presurgical exercise is feasible, leading to modest improvements in some outcomes despite chemoradiation treatment. The detrimental effects of surgery were evident, especially in relation to lean mass. As such, exercise may facilitate recovery by enhancing presurgery physical reserve capacity, thereby providing a buffer to declines following surgery.
Authors: Favil Singh; Daniel A Galvão; Robert U Newton; Nigel A Spry; Michael K Baker; Dennis R Taaffe Journal: Integr Cancer Ther Date: 2018-06-11 Impact factor: 3.279
Authors: Mary A Kennedy; Sara Bayes; Robert U Newton; Yvonne Zissiadis; Nigel A Spry; Dennis R Taaffe; Nicolas H Hart; Daniel A Galvão Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2021-09-12 Impact factor: 4.062