Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy: a randomized phase II study.

<h4>Background</h4>A 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...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Matthew Maddocks, Vanessa Halliday, Alpna Chauhan, Victoria Taylor, Annmarie Nelson, Cathy Sampson, Anthony Byrne, Gareth Griffiths, Andrew Wilcock
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0086059&type=printable
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849331801684705280
author Matthew Maddocks
Vanessa Halliday
Alpna Chauhan
Victoria Taylor
Annmarie Nelson
Cathy Sampson
Anthony Byrne
Gareth Griffiths
Andrew Wilcock
author_facet Matthew Maddocks
Vanessa Halliday
Alpna Chauhan
Victoria Taylor
Annmarie Nelson
Cathy Sampson
Anthony Byrne
Gareth Griffiths
Andrew Wilcock
author_sort Matthew Maddocks
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>A 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.<h4>Methods</h4>Patients 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.<h4>Results</h4>49 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.<h4>Conclusions</h4>NMES 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.<h4>Trial registration</h4>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN 42944026 www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN42944026.
format Article
id doaj-art-2a9ef77ddc6a42ed98875e894825d13a
institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2013-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-2a9ef77ddc6a42ed98875e894825d13a2025-08-20T03:46:24ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-01812e8605910.1371/journal.pone.0086059Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy: a randomized phase II study.Matthew MaddocksVanessa HallidayAlpna ChauhanVictoria TaylorAnnmarie NelsonCathy SampsonAnthony ByrneGareth GriffithsAndrew Wilcock<h4>Background</h4>A 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.<h4>Methods</h4>Patients 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.<h4>Results</h4>49 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.<h4>Conclusions</h4>NMES 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.<h4>Trial registration</h4>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN 42944026 www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN42944026.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0086059&type=printable
spellingShingle Matthew Maddocks
Vanessa Halliday
Alpna Chauhan
Victoria Taylor
Annmarie Nelson
Cathy Sampson
Anthony Byrne
Gareth Griffiths
Andrew Wilcock
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy: a randomized phase II study.
PLoS ONE
title Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy: a randomized phase II study.
title_full Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy: a randomized phase II study.
title_fullStr Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy: a randomized phase II study.
title_full_unstemmed Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy: a randomized phase II study.
title_short Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy: a randomized phase II study.
title_sort neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in patients with non small cell lung cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy a randomized phase ii study
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0086059&type=printable
work_keys_str_mv AT matthewmaddocks neuromuscularelectricalstimulationofthequadricepsinpatientswithnonsmallcelllungcancerreceivingpalliativechemotherapyarandomizedphaseiistudy
AT vanessahalliday neuromuscularelectricalstimulationofthequadricepsinpatientswithnonsmallcelllungcancerreceivingpalliativechemotherapyarandomizedphaseiistudy
AT alpnachauhan neuromuscularelectricalstimulationofthequadricepsinpatientswithnonsmallcelllungcancerreceivingpalliativechemotherapyarandomizedphaseiistudy
AT victoriataylor neuromuscularelectricalstimulationofthequadricepsinpatientswithnonsmallcelllungcancerreceivingpalliativechemotherapyarandomizedphaseiistudy
AT annmarienelson neuromuscularelectricalstimulationofthequadricepsinpatientswithnonsmallcelllungcancerreceivingpalliativechemotherapyarandomizedphaseiistudy
AT cathysampson neuromuscularelectricalstimulationofthequadricepsinpatientswithnonsmallcelllungcancerreceivingpalliativechemotherapyarandomizedphaseiistudy
AT anthonybyrne neuromuscularelectricalstimulationofthequadricepsinpatientswithnonsmallcelllungcancerreceivingpalliativechemotherapyarandomizedphaseiistudy
AT garethgriffiths neuromuscularelectricalstimulationofthequadricepsinpatientswithnonsmallcelllungcancerreceivingpalliativechemotherapyarandomizedphaseiistudy
AT andrewwilcock neuromuscularelectricalstimulationofthequadricepsinpatientswithnonsmallcelllungcancerreceivingpalliativechemotherapyarandomizedphaseiistudy