Optimized nutrition, guided exercise, and wellness support during chemoradiation for head and neck cancer
Supporting Treatment Resilience With Optimized Nutrition and Guided Exercise in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemoradiation
This program will see if nutrition counseling, guided exercise, and wellness education can reduce side effects and help people with head and neck cancer stay stronger during chemoradiation.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Renown Health Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Reno, Nevada and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07160296 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot delivers a 20-week multimodal lifestyle program combining individualized nutrition counseling, guided exercise, and wellness education alongside standard chemoradiation for head and neck cancer patients. Participants receive tailored meal and supplement guidance, supervised light-to-moderate physical activity, and coping/education sessions aimed at preserving lean body mass and supporting emotional resilience. The study is primarily testing feasibility and acceptability while collecting preliminary data on sarcopenia, strength, endurance, and quality of life. Findings will be used to refine the STRONGER program and plan a larger randomized trial.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (≥18) with biopsy-confirmed squamous cell head and neck cancer who are planned for definitive or adjuvant chemoradiation, have ECOG 0–2, can do light-to-moderate physical activity, and can give informed consent are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with severe malnutrition requiring exclusive enteral feeding, medical or cardiac comorbidities that make exercise unsafe, significant cognitive or psychiatric barriers to engagement, or those unable to attend the Reno sites are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help patients preserve muscle, maintain strength and endurance, reduce treatment-related side effects, and improve quality of life during chemoradiation.
How similar studies have performed: Nutrition and exercise interventions have shown benefits in other cancer populations, but combining them as a structured program during head and neck chemoradiation is less well studied and remains largely at the pilot stage.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults ≥18 years old with biopsy-confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck * Planned for definitive or adjuvant chemoRT * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Ability to participate in light-to-moderate physical activity * Able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Severe malnutrition requiring exclusive enteral feeding at baseline * Comorbidities that preclude safe participation in exercise * Cognitive or psychiatric conditions that impair study engagement
Where this trial is running
Reno, Nevada and 1 other locations
- Renown Regional Medical Center — Reno, Nevada, United States (Recruiting)
- Conrad Breast Center at South Meadows — Reno, Nevada, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Kristen Gurnea, MPH
- Email: Renown-CRD@renown.org
- Phone: 17759823646
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.