Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40822250›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of nursing studies advances2025

Effects of exercise therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mizuki Sekino, Takuya Fukushima, Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Keiichi Osaki, Ikumi Yokoyama, Kazuko Katagiri, Shinichiro Morishita, Naoko Sato

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of nursing studies advances, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mizuki SekinoSchool of Nursing, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Takuya FukushimaFaculty of Rehabilitation, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Katsuyoshi SuzukiDivision of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan.
Keiichi OsakiDepartment of Rehabilitation, Panasonic Health Insurance Organization, Matsushita Memorial Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Ikumi YokoyamaSchool of Nursing, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Kazuko KatagiriSchool of Nursing, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Shinichiro MorishitaDepartment of Physical Therapy, School of Health Science, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Naoko SatoSchool of Nursing, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: The reported benefits of exercise therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer include maintaining and improving physical fitness and muscle strength, reducing treatment-related side effects, and enhancing quality of life. However, the evidence remains inconclusive, necessitating the integration of interventional studies to reach a consensus. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of exercise interventions for patients with pancreatic cancer through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Methods: A literature search was conducted to identify articles published prior to May 2024, using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, and PEDro databases. Search terms included pancreatic cancer, exercise-related terminology, physical function, and quality of life. The primary outcome was quality of life, and the secondary outcome was physical function. All meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model. Results: The final analysis included 6 studies, with sample sizes ranging from 40 to 172 patients. The intervention types were resistance training in 3 studies and a combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training in 3 studies. The timings of the interventions were after surgery or chemotherapy in 4 studies and during chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in 2 studies. Three randomized controlled trials used European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 to assess quality of life. Physical function was evaluated using muscle strength measurements (isokinetic and isometric strength), the 5-chair stand test, and the 6-min walk test for exercise capacity. Exercise intervention was effective for improving physical quality of life (standardized mean difference = 0.41, 95 % confidence interval = 0.07-0.74, Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that exercise therapy for pancreatic cancer patients effectively increases muscle strength in the upper and lower limbs while improving their physical quality of life. However, because all the included studies were assessed as having a high risk of bias, the findings of this review should be interpreted with caution.

Indexed as

ExerciseMeta-analysisPancreatic cancerPhysical functionQuality of life

Identifiers

PMID40822250
PMCPMC12355156

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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.