Understanding muscle wasting in cancer patients
Official title: Routine Evaluation of People Living With Cancer - Surgery
Run by University of Edinburgh · NCT05642819 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at cancer patients who are losing muscle and weight to see how their body, activity levels, and overall well-being change over time.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Edinburgh Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Edinburgh) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 1, 2023 |
| Main results expected | December 2027 |
| Study ends | December 2027 |
| Registry record updated | December 2, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT05642819 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and over with cancer who are scheduled for surgical resection of malignancies in the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, colon, or rectum.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with concomitant inflammatory or muscle wasting conditions other than cancer, or those with significant medical or psychiatric issues, may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study focuses on patients with cancer who are at risk of cachexia, a condition characterized by muscle wasting and weight loss. It aims to gather comprehensive data on body composition, physical activity, quality of life, and immune response to cancer over time. By examining these factors together rather than in isolation, the study seeks to provide a more complete understanding of how cachexia affects surgical patients. The findings could help improve patient management and outcomes in those undergoing cancer treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to better strategies for managing cachexia in cancer patients, potentially improving their quality of life and treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While cachexia has been studied in various contexts, this holistic approach to understanding its impact on surgical patients is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion Criteria (Cancer Resection) * Patients with cancer (Clinical, histological, cytological or radiological evidence) planned for surgical resection of a malignancy of the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, colon, or rectum * Aged 18-years and over * Able to give written informed consent Inclusion Criteria (Healthy Controls) * Patients identified at surgical clinic as being planned for an open abdominal operation for a non-inflammatory, benign condition (e.g. donor nephrectomy) * Aged 18-years and over * Able to give written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Any concomitant medical or psychiatric problems which, in the opinion of the investigator, would increase the risk of complication for the participant and/or investigator * Presence of a concomitant inflammatory (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease) or muscle wasting condition other than cancer * Participants who are pregnant, suffer from claustrophobia or with implanted medical devices (e.g., cardiac pacemaker, metallic foreign bodies, aneurysm clip) would not be able to undergo the additional multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Where it's running
-
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Richard JE Skipworth, MD FRCS — University of Edinburgh / NHS Lothian
- Study coordinator: Richard JE Skipworth, MD FRCS
- Email: Richard.Skipworth@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
- Phone: 01312423176
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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.