Feasibility and safety of exercise during chemotherapy in people with gastrointestinal cancers: a pilot study

PURPOSE: Sarcopenia is a poor prognostic factor in cancer patients, and exercise is one of the treatments to improve sarcopenia. However, there is currently insufficient evidence on whether exercise can improve sarcopenia in patients with advanced cancers. This study examined the feasibility of exercise in advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients treated with palliative chemotherapy. METHODS: Between 2020 and 2021, 30 patients were enrolled in a resistance and aerobic exercise program for six weeks. The exercise intervention program (EIP) consisted of low, moderate, and high intensity levels. Patients were asked to select the intensity level according to their ability. The primary endpoint was the feasibility of the EIP measured by compliance during the six weeks. A compliance of over 50% was considered acceptable. The secondary endpoints were changes in weight and muscle mass, safety, quality of life (QoL) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The median age of the study’s participants was 60 (30–77). The total compliance to the EIP was 63.3% (19/30 patients). Sixteen (53.3%) patients had a compliance of over 80%. The attrition rate was 30.0% (9/30). The mean exercise time was 41.4 min, and the aerobic exercise was 92.3% and the resistant exercise was 73.7%, and both exercise was 66.5%. Most patients performed the moderate intensity level exercises at home or near their home. The mean skeletal muscle index (SMI) was 43.5 cm(2)/m(2) pre-chemotherapy and 42.2 cm(2)/m(2) after six weeks of chemotherapy, with a decrease of -1.2 ± 2.8 cm(2)/m(2) (-3.0%) (p = 0.030). In the poor compliance group, the mean SMI decrease was -2.8 ± 3.0 cm(2)/m(2) which was significantly different (p = 0.033); however, in the good compliance group, the mean SMI decrease was -0.5 ± 2.5 cm(2)/m(2) which was maintained over the six weeks (p = 0.337). The good compliance group had a significantly longer median OS compared with the poor compliance group (25.3 months vs. 7.9 months, HR = 0.306, 95% CI = 0.120–0.784, p = 0.014). The QoL showed a better score for insomnia (p = 0.042). There were no serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The EIP during palliative chemotherapy in advanced GI cancer patients showed good compliance. In the good compliance group, muscle mass and physical functions were maintained for six weeks. The EIP was safe, and the QoL was maintained. Based on this study, further research in exercise intervention in advanced cancer patients is needed. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The clinical trial registration number is KCT 0005615 (CRIS, https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/en/); registration date, 23rd Nov 2020. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00520-023-08017-6.