SHAPE-ENDO: Pilot Randomized Trial of Multimodal Pre-Surgical Optimization Versus Standard Surgery in Patients With Obesity and Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer

Summary

SHAPE-ENDO is a single-center, open-label, pilot randomized clinical trial conducted at Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge in Barcelona, Spain.

The study will evaluate the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of comparing two treatment strategies in women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia/endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia or low-risk endometrioid endometrial cancer and grade III obesity, defined as BMI ≥40 kg/m².

Eligible participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two arms. The control arm will undergo standard immediate surgery according to the institutional clinical protocol. The experimental arm will receive the SHAPE-ENDO multimodal pre-surgical optimization strategy before surgery.

The SHAPE-ENDO strategy includes metabolic treatment with semaglutide/Wegovy®, local hormonal therapy with a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device/Mirena® with or without oral medroxyprogesterone acetate/Progevera®, a structured nutritional program, adapted physical exercise, and scheduled oncologic surveillance with clinical evaluation, imaging, and endometrial biopsy with or without hysteroscopy.

The experimental strategy will initially last 28 weeks. In participants with clinical, metabolic, or anthropometric benefit, adequate tolerance, and no evidence of tumor progression, the strategy may be extended up to 54 weeks before surgery.

The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of the randomized trial design. Primary feasibility outcomes include recruitment rate, acceptance of randomization, retention, adherence to the assigned intervention, completion of the SHAPE-ENDO strategy, progression during the optimization period, and the proportion of participants in the experimental arm who reach surgery without tumor progression.

Secondary outcomes include perioperative morbidity, histological response in the experimental arm, metabolic and anthropometric changes, quality of life, treatment adherence, safety and tolerability, and exploratory long-term oncologic outcomes including overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and cancer-specific survival.

Conditions

• Endometrial Cancer
• Endometrial Cancer Stage I
• Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia and Endometrial Carcinoma Stage I
• Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia
• Endometrial Intraepithelial Neoplasia
• Obesity & Overweight
• BMI>40
• Obesity
• Obesity Grade III

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Structured Exercise and Prehabilitation Program

A structured physical exercise program designed to improve functional capacity, aerobic tolerance, and surgical fitness. Program includes supervised or semi-supervised weekly sessions combining aerobic and strength training, typically 3 sessions per week for 30-45 minutes, adapted to baseline performance. The intervention is part of routine clinical care for patients with obesity undergoing surgical preparation and is not assigned experimentally. Data on adherence, tolerance, and functional outcomes are collected prospectively

PROCEDURE

Endometrial Biopsy With or Without Hysteroscopy

Scheduled histological surveillance performed at baseline and at follow-up intervals (typically 14 and 28-54 weeks) to assess local tumor status, including complete response, stability, or progression. Procedures include outpatient endometrial biopsy with optional hysteroscopy based on clinical indication. These evaluations form part of standard clinical care in patients managed conservatively for atypical endometrial hyperplasia or early-stage endometrioid carcinoma and are not assigned experimentally. Data are recorded prospectively to assess disease evolution and surgical eligibility.

PROCEDURE

Radiologic Surveillance (MRI and Transvaginal Ultrasound)

Radiologic evaluation using pelvic MRI and transvaginal ultrasound performed as part of routine clinical care to assess uterine disease, myometrial invasion, adnexal status, and treatment response. Imaging is typically performed at baseline to confirm staging and during follow-up when clinically indicated. These imaging modalities are used per standard clinical guidelines and are not assigned experimentally; results are collected prospectively to evaluate disease stability and surgical planning.

PROCEDURE

Standar upfront Surgery

Standard surgical treatment according to the institutional protocol of Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge for atypical endometrial hyperplasia/endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia or early-stage low-risk endometrioid endometrial cancer. Surgery will usually include hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, sentinel lymph node assessment when indicated and feasible, and a minimally invasive or robotic approach whenever technically possible according to clinical judgment. Surgical approach, operative time, estimated blood loss, conversion to laparotomy, transfusion, hospital stay, intraoperative complications, 30-day postoperative complications, readmission, and sentinel lymph node detection will be recorded.

DRUG

GLP-1 Receptor Agonist

Weekly subcutaneous semaglutide/GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy administered according to approved labeling, clinical indication, patient tolerance, and endocrinology assessment, with standard dose escalation up to the tolerated therapeutic dose. The intervention is used for weight loss and metabolic optimization in participants with severe obesity. Dose, adherence, tolerability, and reasons for dose modification or discontinuation will be recorded prospectively.

DEVICE

Levonorgestrel IUD (Lng-IUD)

Local hormonal therapy using a 52-mg levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system placed at baseline or within 14 days after baseline, with ultrasound confirmation of correct placement. The LNG-IUD is used within the protocolized SHAPE-ENDO strategy according to clinical indication, approved labeling, current guidelines, and physician judgment, for local disease control in atypical endometrial hyperplasia/endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia or early-stage, low-risk endometrioid endometrial cancer. Tolerability, continuation, adverse events, and local histological response will be recorded prospectively.

DRUG

Oral Progestins

Systemic hormonal therapy prescribed according to clinical criteria to support local disease control in atypical endometrial hyperplasia or early-stage endometrioid carcinoma. Typical regimens include medroxyprogesterone acetate (400-600 mg/day) or megestrol acetate (160-320 mg/day). Therapy is initiated or escalated when indicated based on tumor burden or suboptimal response to LNG-IUD. Oral progestins may be used within the protocolized SHAPE-ENDO strategy according to clinical indication, approved labeling, current guidelines, and physician judgment. Use, dosing, tolerance, and outcomes will be recorded prospectively.

BEHAVIORAL

Dietetic-Nutritional intervention

Personalized hypocaloric diet plan supervised by the clinical nutrition team as part of standard obesity and metabolic management. The program includes caloric restriction based on basal metabolic requirements, with the option of very low-calorie diets (VLCD) for 4-6 weeks in selected cases. Follow-up occurs at regular outpatient visits with recording of weight, BMI, waist circumference, and adherence. This intervention is part of routine clinical care and not assigned experimentally; outcomes are recorded prospectively.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Barcelona

  collaborator OTHER

• Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jorge Garcia Fernandez · Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge

• Lola Marti · Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2027-01-31

Primary Completion

2031-04-30

Completion

2035-01-31