Impact of cancer and exercise on mitochondrial function. Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The impact of cancer, chemotherapy and resistance exercise training (RET) on mitochondrial activity.
IRAS ID
275264
Contact name
Jonathon Lund
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Nottingham University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Each year, there are around 363,000 new cancer cases in the UK, with almost half of the patients going on to have resectional surgery. Improving survival and quality of life are inherent goals in the treatment of cancer patients.
Skeletal muscle is a major compartment of the human body, with its function necessary for biological processes including movement and energy production. A tight balance exists between muscle protein synthesis and breakdown, disruption in this results in skeletal muscle depletion. Patients with conditions such as cancer appear to suffer extensive loss - referred to as cachexia. Cachexia is thought to affect 50-80% of patients with cancer. It affects patient physical performance, causing functional impairment and increasing short term postoperative morbidity.
Mitochondria are essential for normal cellular activity and play a crucial role in metabolic processes required for the maintenance of muscle mass. Skeletal muscle is highly reliant on mitochondria to meet the energy requirements for contraction, therefore any alteration in mitochondria directly impacts muscle function. The impact cancer has on mitochondrial function, quantity, and its relationship with overall skeletal muscle mass in humans remains poorly investigated.
The link between cancer cachexia and postoperative morbidity and mortality means improving perioperative fitness and body composition is important. The term ‘prehabilitation’ has been adopted to define an intervention that is integrated into the clinical pathway prior to surgery. With aims of reducing imminent patient risk and promoting lasting beneficial effects on perioperative recovery and outcome.
The rationale behind this study is to gain a greater level of understanding of the impact of cancer on muscle function. The study will also assess if any positive changes seen with a regime of exercise prehabilitation are acceptable and feasible to both the patient and clinician within the time restraints of the clinical environment.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/1218
Date of REC Opinion
19 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion