SHAPE-ENDO: Multimodal Pre-Surgical Optimization in Patients With Obesity and Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer (Phase 1)

Summary

SHAPE-ENDO is a prospective, single-center, low-intervention, non-randomized, single-arm clinical trial conducted at Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge (Barcelona, Spain). The study is designed to evaluate a protocolized multimodal pre-surgical optimization strategy in women with severe obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m²) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia/endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia or early-stage, low-risk endometrioid endometrial cancer.

The strategy is intended for selected patients in whom immediate surgery may be associated with increased perioperative risk due to obesity and comorbidities. Participants will receive a structured multimodal optimization program aimed at improving metabolic and functional status while maintaining local oncologic control.

The multimodal strategy includes authorized treatments used according to clinical indication, product labeling, current guidelines, and physician judgment: semaglutide/GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy for metabolic optimization, local hormonal treatment with a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device with or without oral progestins, structured nutritional intervention, adapted physical exercise, and scheduled clinical, imaging, and histological surveillance.

The primary objective is to estimate the proportion of participants who achieve predefined pre-surgical optimization criteria after the multimodal strategy, including clinically relevant weight loss and/or reduction to BMI \<40 kg/m², absence of tumor progression, and acceptable anesthetic/surgical risk. Secondary outcomes include histological response, metabolic and anthropometric changes, treatment adherence, safety, health-related quality of life, feasibility of subsequent surgery, perioperative outcomes, and exploratory long-term survival outcomes.

Participants will be followed during a 28-54 week optimization period. Long-term follow-up will assess recurrence, survival, quality of life, and metabolic outcomes. Exploratory adjusted comparisons may be performed against a historical cohort of patients with similar baseline characteristics previously treated at the same institution.

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

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.

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge - IDIBELL

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Barcelona

  collaborator OTHER

• Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge

  collaborator OTHER

• Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jorge Garcia Fernandez · Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge

• Lola Marti · Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-09-30

Primary Completion

2027-05-31

Completion

2028-09-30