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Muscle Wasting in Cancer (MWIC)

NCT03191955 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 282

Last updated 2026-01-16

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

One way cancer affects people is through weight loss. During this weight loss (called cachexia), all types of body tissue are lost, but there is a greater rate of muscle loss than fat. Cancer patients with cachexia show decreased quality of life, decreased response to treatment (e.g. chemotherapy), increased complications from surgery, and shorter overall survival. The Investigators aim to identify molecular (and patient) factors within the tissues and bodily fluids of patients with cancer and cachexia in order to identify patients at risk of weight loss, and identify potential therapies. For this, the Investigators aim to take patient samples (muscle, fat, tumour, urine and blood) whilst patients are asleep (general anaesthesia) during their operation to remove the cancer. These samples, and similar samples taken in previous studies, will be analysed in the laboratory. Along with the sample taking, the Investigators aim to perform nutritional assessments of patients before and after surgery to get an accurate picture of their weight loss. This will include simple measurements (e.g. height/weight), and computer reanalysis of their initial diagnostic computed tomography (CT) scans (this study will not require any additional scans for patients). The Investigators also aim to assess how their muscles function, by asking them to perform walk tests and wear a physical activity meter, and assess their quality of life through questionnaires. The Investigators aim to perform nutritional and functional assessments pre-surgery and at 2-3 appointments post-surgery, up to a period of 12 months. At these timepoints, the Investigators also aim to take repeat blood and urine samples, and where possible, one additional thigh muscle biopsy. Repeated assessments allow comparison between "cancer" and "cured" states. The study will take 2 years for patient recruitment.

For comparison, the Investigators also aim to examine similar tissue and fluid samples (except tumour) from non-cancer patients who are having surgery for benign conditions (e.g. hernia).

Conditions

  • Cachexia

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • NHS Lothian

    collaborator OTHER_GOV

  • Novartis

    collaborator INDUSTRY

  • University of Edinburgh

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Michael I Ramage, MBChB · University of Edinburgh

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2015-11-26
Primary Completion
2025-08-01
Completion
2025-08-01

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03191955 on ClinicalTrials.gov