Pre-treatment exercise to improve outcomes for people with oesophageal adenocarcinoma

Optimising Prehabilitation Exercise to Enhance Tumour Outcomes in Advanced Oesophageal Cancer

Not applicable Interventional University of Surrey · NCT07375420

This trial will test whether a short programme of low- or high-intensity exercise before chemotherapy and surgery helps people with resectable oesophageal adenocarcinoma by increasing immune activity in tumours and improving recovery.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment50 (estimated)
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Surrey Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, immunotherapy
Locations1 site (Guildford, Surrey)
Trial IDNCT07375420 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional study enrolls adults with resectable oesophageal adenocarcinoma who are planned for neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and asks them to undertake either a low-intensity or high-intensity exercise programme before treatment. Researchers will collect tumour tissue, blood, fitness measures and stool samples to measure immune cells in the tumour, systemic immune responses, fitness changes and shifts in the gut microbiome. The goal is to see whether exercise increases immune cell infiltration into tumours and produces measurable biological changes that could make standard treatments work better. The protocol builds on animal studies showing exercise-driven tumour immune changes and limited human data on exercise effects during cancer care.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults with resectable oesophageal adenocarcinoma who are planned for neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and who can safely perform cardiopulmonary exercise testing and the exercise programmes.

Not a fit: People who cannot safely exercise because of other health conditions, those with unresectable or metastatic disease, pregnant people, and anyone under 18 are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, pre-treatment exercise could increase immune activity in tumours, improve treatment response and recovery, and potentially shorten hospital stays.

How similar studies have performed: Animal studies show exercise can boost tumour immune cells, human data are limited and prior short-term human work has not yet demonstrated clear tumour immune effects.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults with resectable oesophageal adenocarcinoma who are planned for neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to carry out CPET or exercise due to underlying health conditions
* pregnancy
* \<18 years old

Where this trial is running

Guildford, Surrey

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Oesophageal AdenocarcinomaT CellsTumor MicroenvironmentExerciseoesophageal cancerexercisetumour microenvironment
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.