Prehabilitation in High-risk Oncologic Surgery

Recruiting

SURG-236: Prehabilitation in High-risk Oncologic Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Full eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Evidence of probable or confirmed primary or recurrent malignant neoplasm of any stage
* Planned to undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation
* Eligible surgical candidate for one of the following procedures: pancreatectomy, gastrectomy, esophagectomy, cystectomy, low anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, or cytoreductive surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy
* Age greater than 18 years
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2
* Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent form and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization document

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to complete study requirements, such as attending a minimum of two visits for each specialty referral. This will be assessed at the final preoperative visit, at which time the participant may be discontinued from the study and replaced. Participants will not be excluded due to lack of insurance coverage for health psychology visits.
* Does not proceed to surgery at an affiliated institution
* Pregnant or breastfeeding

About the study

The goal of this clinical study is to learn whether a prehabilitation program can improve recovery after major abdominal surgery in adults with cancer who are receiving treatment before surgery. Prehabilitation is supportive care given before surgery to help patients prepare physically, nutritionally, and emotionally.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

1. Does prehabilitation reduce the number of participants who die or have serious complications within 30 days after surgery? 2. Does prehabilitation improve physical strength and fitness, nutritional status, emotional well-being, and quality of life before surgery? 3. Does prehabilitation affect the length of the hospital stay after surgery, the time it takes to start additional cancer treatment after surgery, or the ability to complete recommended additional treatment?

Participants will take part in a prehabilitation program during their treatment period before surgery. The program includes visits with physical therapy, nutrition, and health psychology. Participants will meet with each specialty at least twice before surgery. They will also complete questionnaires and tests that measure physical function, diet and weight, emotional well-being, and quality of life. After surgery, information about recovery and additional cancer treatment will be collected from medical records for up to 120 days.

Researchers will compare the outcomes of participants who receive the prehabilitation program with outcomes from similar patients who previously received care at Fox Chase Cancer Center but did not participate in this study.

What is being tested

Multidisciplinary Prehabilitation Program (behavioral)

Sponsor: Fox Chase Cancer Center · Participants: 180 · Started: Jul 15, 2026

Contact the study team

Stephanie Greco, MD · Phone: 2152143719
Henkel Valentine, PhD · Phone: 2678820820

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07638410

Locations in the U.S.

Pennsylvania

Fox Chase Cancer Center - Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Conditions

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 29, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.