Prehab to get stronger before pancreatic cancer surgery
Official title: Multimodal Prehabilitation Prior to Pancreatic Cancer Surgery: A Pilot Study
Run by University of Massachusetts, Worcester · NCT07478185 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether adults with pancreatic cancer can follow a combined exercise, nutrition, and symptom-management program during chemotherapy to improve fitness and recovery before surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Massachusetts, Worcester Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Worester, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 31, 2026 |
| Main results expected | February 2028 |
| Study ends | December 2028 |
| Registry record updated | April 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07478185 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (age ≥18) with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma scheduled for neoadjuvant chemotherapy and planned surgical resection who are medically cleared for exercise and able to read and understand English are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are medically unfit for physical activity (for example with unstable cardiac or severe pulmonary disease), who have severe cognitive impairment, are pregnant, incarcerated, or cannot participate in English are unlikely to be eligible or benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This single-center, prospective pilot embeds a standardized multimodal prehabilitation program into routine care for adults receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy before planned pancreatic resection. The intervention combines coordinated physical activity, nutritional optimization, and supportive symptom management delivered throughout the chemotherapy period. Participants complete functional fitness tests and patient-reported surveys at baseline, after the prehabilitation period before surgery, and about one month after surgery, with perioperative clinical data abstracted from the medical record. Analyses are descriptive and exploratory, focused on feasibility, adherence, program delivery, and perioperative changes to inform future larger trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help patients enter surgery in better physical condition, which may reduce complications and speed early recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Prehabilitation has shown benefits in other major abdominal and cancer surgeries, but its delivery during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer is relatively untested and remains exploratory.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) * Planned neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to planned surgical resection * Medically stable and cleared to participate in physical activity/exercise programming * Able to provide informed consent * Ability to read, write and understand English Exclusion Criteria: * Age \<18 years * Pregnant * Prisoner * Severe cognitive impairment that precludes informed consent or participation * Contraindications to physical activity, including unstable cardiac disease, severe pulmonary disease, or recent myocardial infarction
Where it's running
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UMass Memorial Medical Center
Worester, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: James M Lindberg, MD — UMass Memorial Health
- Study coordinator: Kayla R Widdowson, MD
- Email: kayla.widdowson@umassmed.edu
- Phone: 774-641-1257
Similar studies
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.