Does Prehabilitation modify muscle mass in patients with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant therapy? A subanalysis from the REx Randomised Controlled Trial

S. J. Moug (Lead / Corresponding author), S. J. E. Barry, S. Maguire, N. Johns, D. Dolan, R. J. C. Steele, C. Buchan, G. Mackay, A. S. Anderson, N. Mutrie

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37 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Background: Patients with rectal cancer who present with sarcopenia (low muscle mass) are at significantly greater risk of postoperative complications and reduction in disease-free survival. We performed a subanalysis of a randomised controlled study [the REx trial; www.isrctn.com; 62859294] to assess the potential of prehabilitation to modify muscle mass in patients having neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT). Methods: Patients scheduled for NACRT, then potentially curative surgery (August 2014–March 2016) had baseline physical assessment and psoas muscle mass measurement (total psoas index using computed tomography-based measurements). Participants were randomised to either the intervention (13–17-week telephone-guided graduated walking programme) or control group (standard care). Follow-up testing was performed 1–2 weeks before surgery. Results: The 44 patients had a mean age of 66.8 years (SD 9.6) and were male (64%); white (98%); American Society of Anesthesiologists class 2 (66%); co-morbid (58%); overweight (72%) (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m 2). At baseline, 14% were sarcopenic. At follow-up, 13 (65%) of patients in the prehabilitation group had increased muscle mass versus 7 (35%) that experienced a decrease. Conversely, 16 (67%) controls experienced a decrease in muscle mass and 8 (33%) showed an increase. An adjusted linear regression model estimated a mean treatment difference in Total Psoas Index of 40.2mm 2/m 2 (95% CI − 3.4 to 83.7) between groups in change from baseline (p = 0.07). Conclusions: Prehabilitation improved muscle mass in patients with rectal cancer who had NACRT. These results need to be explored in a larger trial to determine if the poorer short- and long-term patient outcomes associated with low muscle mass can be minimised by prehabilitation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)959-964
Number of pages6
JournalTechniques in Coloproctology
Volume24
Early online date20 Jun 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2020

Keywords

  • Muscle wasting
  • Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
  • Neoadjuvant therapy
  • Prehabilitation
  • Preoperative care
  • Rectal cancer
  • Rectal neoplasms
  • Sarcopenia
  • Walking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Gastroenterology

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