Exercise and Cardiorespiratory Fitness Improvement Through Supervised Training in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery Patients (EXCITING-UGI)

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how different exercise intensities affect recovery after surgery in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer, including esophageal and gastric cancer. This randomized controlled trial compares high-intensity interval training (HIIT), low-intensity continuous training (LICT), and usual care to understand which approach best improves physical fitness and other health outcomes. The study also investigates biological markers to explore how exercise influences recovery at a physiological level. Participants begin the study about 6 weeks after surgery and are randomly assigned to one of three groups. The HIIT group performs supervised aerobic interval training combined with resistance exercises three times a week for eight weeks, while the LICT group completes continuous low-intensity aerobic and resistance training on the same schedule. Both exercise groups receive nutritional counseling every four weeks. The usual care group receives standard postoperative care with nutritional counseling but no structured exercise. During the study, participants undergo assessments of peak oxygen uptake using cardiopulmonary exercise testing at the start and after eight weeks. Researchers also measure physical function, muscle mass, physical activity levels, quality of life, and collect blood and gut microbiome samples. Exercise adherence and safety are monitored throughout. The total participation includes the eight-week intervention period with follow-up evaluations to understand recovery progress.

Exercise Training After Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery