PS02.027: EXERCISE TRAINING DURING NEO-ADJUVANT THERAPY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING SURGERY FOR CANCER OF THE GASTRO-ESOPHAGEAL JUNCTION
Abstract Background Neoadjuvant chemo- or chemo-radiotherapy before tumor resection is first-line treatment in patients with GEJ but associated with considerable symptom burden and complication risk which may impair treatment efficacy and quality of life. Strategies to improve treatment tolerability are therefore warranted. Methods Fifty GEJ cancer patients were allocated without randomization to an exercise-group or usual care control-group. The exercise-group was prescribed 2 weekly sessions including aerobic interval exercise and resistance training for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was risk of treatment failure defined as any serious adverse event (SAE) precluding surgery. Risk of other SAEs and quality of life (in both groups); and exercise-adherence and change in aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and body composition (in the exercise-group) was recorded. Results Risk of treatment failure was 5% in the EX-group and 21% in the CON-group, and risk of pre-operative hospitalization was 15% in the EX-group and 38% in the CON-group. Risk of post-operative complications was similar between groups. The exercise-group attended on average 17.4 sessions and improved fitness (+ 8%), muscle strength (+ 15–22%) and FACT-E total score (+ 12-points). Conclusion Pre-operative exercise was feasible and led to favorable changes in fitness, strength and quality of life. Further, it may be associated with lower risk of treatment failure and hospitalization during neoadjuvant therapy, which could have important implications for future perioperative management of patients with GEJ cancer. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.