Trial reportRadiation oncology (London, England)2018
Progressive resistance training in cachectic head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: a randomized controlled pilot feasibility trial.
Trial report in Radiation oncology (London, England), 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03524755 (Effects of a Progressive Resistance Training in Cachectic Cancer Patients During Radiotherapy - a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial), which is not on this map. Cited by 56 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
Effects of a Progressive Resistance Training in Cachectic Cancer Patients During Radiotherapy - a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
Who cites it
56 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Network meta-analysis of the intervention effects of different exercise measures on Sarcopenia in cancer patients.BMC public health · 2024Pooled it
- Effect of resistance exercise on physical fitness, quality of life, and fatigue in patients with cancer: a systematic review.Frontiers in oncology · 2024Pooled it
- Effect of exercise across the head and neck cancer continuum: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023Pooled it
- Physical rehabilitation for the management of cancer-related fatigue during cytotoxic treatment: a systematic review with meta-analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023Pooled it
- Efficacy of resistance training during adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy in cancer care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2022Pooled it
- Attention to principles of exercise training: an updated systematic review of randomized controlled trials in cancers other than breast and prostate.BMC cancer · 2021Pooled it
- Exercise for cancer cachexia in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Body Composition Evaluation in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Review.Frontiers in oncology · 2019Pooled it
- Exercise as supportive care in advanced cancer-related weight loss: a feasibility study comparing patients with and without severe weight loss.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Trial
- Feasibility of a comprehensive supervised exercise program during and after treatment of head and neck cancer: a mixed-methods study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Trial
- The effects of resistance training in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome.Clinical rheumatology · 2022Trial
- Effects of Exercise in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Trial
- Can Exercise Training Improve the Quality of Life and Physical Function in Multiple Myeloma Patients?: Discussing the Progression of the Training Stimulus.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Cancer and Treatment-Related Conditions and Their Implications for Exercise in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Narrative Review.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Review
- The role of aerobic and resistance exercise for cancer cachexia management - A systematic scoping review.Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing · 2025Review
- Dynamic changes in nutritional parameters, inflammatory, and immune biomarkers during (chemo-) radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: a prospective longitudinal study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Article
- The role of resistance training in mitigating cancer-induced cachexia: A systematic review.Sports medicine and health science · 2025Review
- A rapid review of nutrition and exercise approaches to managing unintentional weight loss, muscle loss, and malnutrition in cancer.The oncologist · 2025Review
- Article
- Exercise therapy: an effective approach to mitigate the risk of cancer metastasis.World journal of surgical oncology · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCancer cachexia is a prevalent symptom of head and neck neoplasms. The reduction in skeletal muscle mass is one of the main characteristics which can lead to poor physical functioning. The purposes of this pilot randomized controlled trial were to determine the feasibility of progressive resistance training in cachectic head and neck cancer patients during radiotherapy and to explore possible risks and benefits.
methodsTwenty cachectic participants with head and neck cancer receiving radiation were randomized to obtain either a machine supported progressive resistance training (n = 10) or usual care (n = 10). The training took place 3 times weekly for 30 min. Intervention included 3 exercises for major muscle groups with 8-12 repetition maximum for 3 sets each. Bioelectrical impedance analysis, hand-held dynamometry, Six-Minute Walk Test and standardized questionnaires for fatigue and quality of life were used for evaluating outcomes at baseline before radiotherapy (t1), after 7 weeks of radiotherapy (t2) and 8 weeks after the end of radiotherapy (t3).
resultsAll participants (n = 20) completed the trial. No serious adverse events occurred. At the initial assessment the cachectic patients had already lost 7.1 ± 5.2% of their body weight. General fatigue (score 10.7 ± 3.3) and reduced quality of life (score 71.3 ± 20.6) were prevalent in cachectic head and neck cancer patients even before radiotherapy. An average improvement of weight loading for leg press (+ 19.0%), chest press (+ 29.8%) and latissimus pull-down (+ 22.8%) was possible in the intervention group. Participants had at least 13 training sessions. The outcome measures showed nonsignificant changes at t2 and t3, but a trend for a better course of general fatigue and quality of life at t2 in the intervention group.
conclusionsDespite advanced tumor stage and burdensome treatment the intervention adherence is excellent. Progressive resistance training in cachectic head and neck cancer patients during radiotherapy seems to be safe and feasible and may have beneficial effects of general fatigue and quality of life.
trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03524755 . Registered 15 May 2018 - Retrospectively registered.
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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.