Prehabilitation before high-risk cancer surgery

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This prospective cohort study evaluates whether a structured prehabilitation program—covering physical therapy, nutrition, and health psychology—delivered during neoadjuvant treatment, improves postoperative outcomes for adults undergoing high-risk abdominal oncologic surgery. Participants are matched to retrospective controls to compare rates of serious complications and mortality within 30 days after surgery, as well as measures of physical function, nutrition, emotional well-being, and quality of life. The study also looks at hospital stay length and the timing and completion of additional cancer treatments. The program is implemented at Fox Chase Cancer Center and targets patients planned for pancreatectomy, gastrectomy, esophagectomy, cystectomy, low anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, or cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Evidence of probable or confirmed primary or recurrent malignant neoplasm of any stage
* Planned to undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation
* Eligible surgical candidate for one of the following procedures: pancreatectomy, gastrectomy, esophagectomy, cystectomy, low anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, or cytoreductive surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy
* Age greater than 18 years
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2
* Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent form and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization document

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to complete study requirements, such as attending a minimum of two visits for each specialty referral. This will be assessed at the final preoperative visit, at which time the participant may be discontinued from the study and replaced. Participants will not be excluded due to lack of insurance coverage for health psychology visits.
* Does not proceed to surgery at an affiliated institution
* Pregnant or breastfeeding

Where it's running

• Fox Chase Cancer Center - Philadelphia
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Stephanie Gzreco, MD — Fox Chase Cancer Center
• Study coordinator: Stephanie Greco, MD
• Email: stephanie.greco@fccc.edu
• Phone: 2152143719

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.