Supervised (Home-Based Exercise) Prehabilitation Program in Pancreatic Cancer Patients Undergoing to Neoadjuvant...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Exercise Physiology
• Clinical Nutrition

Background:

• Pancreatic cancer patients often have poor physical fitness, increasing risks during treatment.
• Current exercise prehabilitation programs face challenges due to short pre-surgery times and treatment side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a home-based, partially supervised exercise prehabilitation program for pancreatic cancer patients.
• To evaluate the impact of this program on physical fitness, body composition, and inflammatory markers.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 10 pancreatic cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
• A 4-week program combining high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with functional and resistance exercises, remotely monitored.
• Outcomes included adherence, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle function, body composition, fatigue, quality of life, and inflammatory markers.

Main Results:

• Six out of ten patients completed the program, indicating a substantial attrition rate.
• No significant changes were observed in fatigue or quality of life among completers.
• Aerobic capacity and muscle function remained stable; IL-6 levels decreased significantly.

Conclusions:

• A home-based HIIT prehabilitation program is feasible for some pancreatic cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy.
• High attrition rates highlight the need for adaptive exercise prescriptions and better patient support.