Exercise Prehabilitation in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous-cell Carcinoma: The FIT4TREAT Trial (FIT4TREAT)

Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, University Institute of Maia, Aveiro University, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho

The main purpose of this randomized-controlled trial is to evaluate the effects of prehabilitation based on exercise training (ET) on functional capacity in HNC patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Forty-six participants will be randomized (1:1 ratio) into prehabilitation and usual care groups. The length of intervention will be at least 2 weeks. Data will be collected at diagnosis, immediately before anti-cancer treatment start and 4 weeks following CRT. Primary outcome is functional capacity as assessed by the six-minute walk test. Additional measures include muscle strength, endothelial function, arterial stiffness, inflammatory biomarkers, body composition, quality of life, treatment tolerance, compliance to treatment, progression-free survival, and overall survival.

In addition to standard medical care, the prehabilitation group will have three supervised exercise training sessions per week from diagnosis to start of radiotherapy (pre-treatment phase).

In addition to usual care, the prehabilitation group will exercise 3 times a week, starting immediately after diagnosis and throughout the pre-treatment period. Each exercise session will encompass 5-min warm-up and 45-min conditioning exercises. Aerobic training will be performed using low-volume high intensity interval training (HIIT). The HIIT duration is 16-20 minutes and it will be performed with 8-10 intervals of high intensity (1 minute) and 8-10 intervals of low intensity (1 minute). High intensity intervals will be set to an external load that represents 85-90% of estimated VO2Peak. In addition, patients will do resistance training at moderate intensity. Patients will complete 2 sets of 12 repetitions of 5 upper and lower body exercises.

Assessed by brachial artery dilation to endothelial-dependent stimuli using an ultrasound, according to the recommendations.

Assessed by brachial artery dilation to endothelial-dependent stimuli using an ultrasound, according to the recommendations.

Assessed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). This is a patient-reported questionnaire composed of both multi-item scales and single-item measures. These include 5 functional scales, 3 symptom scales, a global health status / QoL scale, and 6 single items. All of the scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high score for a functional scale represents a high / healthy level of functioning, a high score for the global health status/QoL represents a high QoL, but a high score for a symptom scale/item represents a high level of symptomatology/problems.

Assessed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). This is a patient-reported questionnaire composed of both multi-item scales and single-item measures. These include 5 functional scales, 3 symptom scales, a global health status / QoL scale, and 6 single items. All of the scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high score for a functional scale represents a high / healthy level of functioning, a high score for the global health status/QoL represents a high QoL, but a high score for a symptom scale/item represents a high level of symptomatology/problems.

Assessed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-HN43). This is the head and neck cancer specific module that contains 43 questions with 19 symptoms scales. All of the multi-item scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high score represents a high level of symptomatology or problems.

Assessed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-HN43). This is the head and neck cancer specific module that contains 43 questions with 19 symptoms scales. All of the multi-item scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high score represents a high level of symptomatology or problems.

Assessed as the average relative chemotherapy dose-intensity received for the originally planned regimen based on standard formulas.

Assessed assessed as the completion of prescribed dose of radiation during the prescribed time frame.

Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥18 years old; Histologically confirmed HNSCC located on the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, nasopharynx or in lymph nodes from an unknown primary tumor (stage I-IV); Proposed for concomitant chemoradiotherapy with curative intent; Date of treatment beginning ≥2 weeks from baseline assessment; ECOG-Performance Status 0-1. Exclusion Criteria: Completion of previous anticancer treatment within less than a year; Uncontrolled hypertension, cardiac or pulmonary disease; Contraindications to exercise training; Inability to provide informed consent; Expected inability to fulfil the proposed schedule.