Exercise Training After Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery

Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to determine the optimal exercise intensity for improving postoperative recovery in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer. Participants who have undergone curative surgery will be randomly assigned to high-intensity interval training (HIIT), low-intensity continuous training (LICT), or usual care. The exercise interventions will be performed under supervision three times per week for eight weeks. The primary outcome is peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak), assessed using cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Secondary outcomes include physical function, body composition, patient-reported outcomes, and biological and mechanistic markers such as inflammatory biomarkers, muscle-related factors, and gut microbiota. This study will also explore potential mechanisms underlying exercise-induced adaptations and their association with clinical outcomes.

Conditions

• Esophageal Cancer
• Gastric Cancer (Diagnosis)
• Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Supervised aerobic high-intensity interval training combined with resistance training and nutritional counseling. Aerobic training is performed on a cycle ergometer and consists of four sets of 4-minute high-intensity intervals at 80-95% of VO₂peak, interspersed with 3-minute recovery periods at 60% of VO₂peak. Each session includes a 3-minute warm-up and a 3-minute cool-down, with a total duration of 34 minutes. Training is performed three times per week for eight weeks. Resistance training includes chest press, leg extension, leg press, and abdominal exercises using pneumatic resistance machines, consisting of two sets of 20-25 repetitions at approximately 20RM. Nutritional counseling is provided by a registered dietitian once every four weeks for a total of two sessions during the intervention period.

BEHAVIORAL

Low-Intensity Continuous Training (LICT)

Supervised low-intensity continuous training combined with resistance training and nutritional counseling. Aerobic training is performed on a cycle ergometer at 37-45% of VO₂peak for 28 minutes per session, with a 3-minute warm-up and a 3-minute cool-down, for a total duration of 34 minutes. Training is performed three times per week for eight weeks. Resistance training is identical to the HIIT group and includes chest press, leg extension, leg press, and abdominal exercises using pneumatic resistance machines, consisting of two sets of 20-25 repetitions at approximately 20RM. Nutritional counseling is provided by a registered dietitian once every four weeks for a total of two sessions during the intervention period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kansai Medical University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Takuya Fukushima · Kansai Medical University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-05-15

Primary Completion

2029-11-30

Completion

2029-11-30

Countries

• Japan

Study Locations