Actively Recruiting
Structural Characteristics of Trunk and Limb Muscles in Cachectic Colorectal Cancer Patients
Led by Hasselt University · Updated on 2025-09-09
60
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
25 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Colorectal cancer is a major public health concern and is the second leading cause of cancer death in developed countries. Many patients with advanced colorectal cancer develop cachexia, a condition involving involuntary weight loss and muscle loss that contributes significantly to high mortality rates. This observational study aims to evaluate the muscle characteristics of cachectic colorectal cancer patients by comparing muscle biopsies from different muscle groups among cachectic patients, non-cachectic patients, and healthy controls. Participants will undergo fine needle muscle biopsies from the erector spinae and vastus lateralis muscles. Additional assessments include blood samples, 3D freehand ultrasound, physical performance tests like the Short Physical Performance Battery, handgrip strength measurements, and questionnaires addressing activity patterns and quality of life. Measurements will be taken at a single time point for all participants, including 10 cachectic patients, 25 non-cachectic patients, and 25 healthy controls. During the study visit, researchers will collect muscle biopsies and perform various tests to assess muscle fiber types, muscle nuclei, inflammation, mitochondrial structure, muscle capillarization, and physical function. Imaging such as CT scans and ultrasound will be used alongside questionnaires to evaluate participants' activity levels and overall quality of life. The study is designed to gather detailed muscle and functional data at enrollment to better understand muscle changes in colorectal cancer patients with cachexia.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Structural Characteristics of Trunk and Limb Muscles in Cachectic Colorectal Cancer Patients
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Participants must be 18 years or older
- Cachectic colorectal cancer patients must have unwanted weight loss > 5% in the last 6 months or > 2% weight loss with BMI < 20 kg/m2 or sarcopenia
- Cachexia staging score (CSS) of 5-12 for cachectic patients
- Non-cachectic colorectal cancer patients must not meet cachexia weight loss criteria and have CSS score 0-2
- Healthy controls must be 18 years or older
You will not qualify if you...
- Mental or psychological conditions
- Insufficient knowledge of the Dutch language
- Muscle diseases affecting the spine and lower limbs
- Being bedridden
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
Duration - At enrollment
Participants undergo minimally invasive fine needle muscle biopsies of trunk and limb muscles along with various assessments including ultrasound, CT scans, activity pattern monitoring, strength tests, and questionnaires at enrollment.
1 visit (in-person)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
Hasselt University - REVAL research institution
Diepenbeek, Limburg, Belgium, 3520
Actively Recruiting
2
Jessa Hospital
Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium, 3500
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
B
Britt van de Haterd, PhD student
K
Kenneth Verboven, Professor
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
3
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