Neoadjuvant Prehabilitation Therapy for Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Optimizing Outcomes Throughout...

Prehabilitation is well established for improving outcomes in cancer surgery. Combining prehabilitation with neoadjuvant treatments may provide an opportunity to rapidly initiate cancer-directed therapy while improving functional status in preparation for local consolidation. In this proof-of-concept study, we analyzed non-small-cell lung cancer patients who underwent simultaneous prehabilitation and neoadjuvant therapy.

We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer followed by curative intent surgery between 2015 and 2021. Patients who were screened for the prehabilitation program were identified. The screening included assessment of physical performance, nutritional status, and signs of anxiety and depression.

We identified a total of 141 patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy. Twenty patients were screened to undergo a prehabilitation program. Four patients did not complete the exercise program (1 surgical intervention too soon, 1 drop-out after the first session, and 2 patients were deemed fit without intervention). The postoperative median length of stay was 2 days (range 1-18). Patients improved their 6-minute-walk test despite undergoing neoadjuvant treatment by a mean of 33 meters (± 50, P = .1). Self-reported functional status (DASI) showed significant improvement by a mean of 10 points (± 11, P = .03), and HADS-anxiety-score was significantly reduced after the prehabilitation program by a mean of 1.5 points (± 1, P = .005).

Neoadjuvant prehabilitation therapy is feasible and associated with encouraging results. The performance of all measures remains a logistic challenge. With multimodal strategies for lung cancer treatment becoming key to optimal outcomes, neoadjuvant prehabilitation therapy is a concept worthy of prospective multi-center evaluation.