Trial reportPloS one2013
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy: a randomized phase II study.
Trial report in PloS one, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
21 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 56 citations in OpenAlex.
- Recommendations for Interventions to Improve Function in Patients With Lung Cancer: A Clinical Practice Guideline.Cancer medicine · 2025Guideline
- Non-pharmacological interventions targeting mobility among people with advanced cancer: a systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024Pooled it
- Are the MORECare guidelines on reporting of attrition in palliative care research populations appropriate? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.BMC palliative care · 2020Pooled it
- Exercise training for advanced lung cancer.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019Pooled it
- The efficacy and prescription of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in adult cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2018Pooled it
- Understanding factors influencing physical activity and exercise in lung cancer: a systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2017Pooled it
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for muscle weakness in adults with advanced disease.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- The Effects of Electrical Stimulation Program on Navicular Height, Balance, and Fear of Falling in Community-Dwelling Elderly.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Trial
- Trial
- Article
- Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Plus Nutritional Counseling Attenuates Thigh Muscle Thickness Loss in Hospitalized Cancer Patients.Pathophysiology : the official journal of the International Society for Pathophysiology · 2025Article
- Review
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for physical function maintenance during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Study protocol.PloS one · 2024Article
- Article
- A Systematic Review of the Safety, Feasibility and Benefits of Exercise for Patients with Advanced Cancer.Cancers · 2021Review
- Review
- A longitudinal study of muscle strength and function in patients with cancer cachexia.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2019Article
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation improves exercise capacity in adult patients with chronic lung disease: a meta-analysis of English studies.Journal of thoracic disease · 2018Article
- The application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in cancer rehabilitation: current prescription, pitfalls, and future directions.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2018Article
- [Prevention and treatment of cachexia : Exercise and nutritional therapy].Der Internist · 2016Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundA reduced exercise capacity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therapeutic exercise can be beneficial and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the quadriceps muscles may represent a practical approach. The primary aim of this study was to determine the acceptability of NMES of the quadriceps to patients with NSCLC used alongside palliative chemotherapy. Secondary aims explored aspects of safety and efficacy of NMES in this setting.
methodsPatients with advanced NSCLC due to receive first-line palliative chemotherapy were randomized to usual care with or without NMES. They were asked to undertake 30 minute sessions of NMES, ideally daily, but as a minimum, three times weekly. For NMES to be considered acceptable, it was predetermined that ≥80% of patients should achieve this minimum level of adherence. Qualitative interviews were held with a subset of patients to explore factors influencing adherence. Safety was assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Quadriceps muscle strength, thigh lean mass, and physical activity level were assessed at baseline and after three cycles of chemotherapy.
results49 patients (28 male, median (IQR) age 69 (64-75) years) participated. Of 30 randomized to NMES, 18 were eligible for the primary endpoint, of whom 9 (50% [90% CI, 29 to 71]) met the minimum level of adherence. Adherence was enhanced by incorporating sessions into a daily routine and hindered by undesirable effects of chemotherapy. There were no serious adverse events related to NMES, nor significant differences in quadriceps muscle strength, thigh lean mass or physical activity level between groups.
conclusionsNMES is not acceptable in this setting, nor was there a suggestion of benefit. The need remains to explore NMES in patients with cancer in other settings.
trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN 42944026 www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN42944026.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.