SP2.2.4 Structured prehabilitation reduces physical deconditioning and improves emotional and physical well-being during neo-adjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery for oesophageal cancer

Abstract Introduction Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) prior to oesophagectomy is associated with a decline in cardiovascular fitness, sarcopenia and reduced health related quality of life. This study aimed to determine if a structured exercise programmed mitigated these effects. Methods A prospective non-randomised trial compared a standard care pathway to a structured prehabilitation exercise programme undertaken before and during NAC and surgery for oesophageal cancer. Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPEX), body composition analyses and Health Related Quality of Life questionnaires were performed at multiple time points. Results Comparison of the Intervention (n=22) and Control (n=20) groups demonstrated a decline in patient fitness following NAC, measured by VO2peak. This was blunted by 7.86% in patients undergoing the structured exercise prehabilitation program (-21.40% Control vs -13.54% Intervention p=0.02). Fat Free Mass increased (intervention 16.1 vs. 17.3 kg/m2; control 15.4 vs. 14.8 kg/m2, p=0.056) and Fat Mass Index to Fat Free Mass Index ratio (-5.51% Intervention, 10.74% control p=0.043) decreased in the treatment group. An overall improvement in Mental Wellbeing and Cognitive and Emotional function in HRQL after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was seen in the intervention group. Conclusion A structured exercise programme prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy blunts cardiopulmonary deconditioning, reverses sarcopenia and improves the quality of life in patients undergoing a highly debilitating treatment regimen. Further studies will be needed to validate these findings.