Resistance exercise combined with protein supplementation for skeletal muscle mass in people with pancreatic cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Study protocol for the REBUILD trial.

<h4>Background</h4>Pancreatic cancer patients' prognosis may be limited by two conditions, cachexia and sarcopenia. Resistance exercise and protein supplementation are safe non-pharmacological strategies that may increase or preserve skeletal muscle mass within this population. Ther...

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Main Authors: Paola Gonzalo-Encabo, John Gardiner, Mary K Norris, Rebekah L Wilson, Amber J Normann, Danny Nguyen, Nathan Parker, Darryl Tjogas, Lauren K Brais, Jeffrey A Meyerhardt, Michael H Rosenthal, Brian M Wolpin, Hajime Uno, Christina M Dieli-Conwright
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Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322192
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author Paola Gonzalo-Encabo
John Gardiner
Mary K Norris
Rebekah L Wilson
Amber J Normann
Danny Nguyen
Nathan Parker
Darryl Tjogas
Lauren K Brais
Jeffrey A Meyerhardt
Michael H Rosenthal
Brian M Wolpin
Hajime Uno
Christina M Dieli-Conwright
author_facet Paola Gonzalo-Encabo
John Gardiner
Mary K Norris
Rebekah L Wilson
Amber J Normann
Danny Nguyen
Nathan Parker
Darryl Tjogas
Lauren K Brais
Jeffrey A Meyerhardt
Michael H Rosenthal
Brian M Wolpin
Hajime Uno
Christina M Dieli-Conwright
author_sort Paola Gonzalo-Encabo
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Pancreatic cancer patients' prognosis may be limited by two conditions, cachexia and sarcopenia. Resistance exercise and protein supplementation are safe non-pharmacological strategies that may increase or preserve skeletal muscle mass within this population. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of a home-based virtually supervised resistance exercise intervention, with or without protein supplementation in pancreatic cancer patients initiating neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This intervention may also maintain skeletal muscle mass and improve plasma biomarkers associated with muscle tissue wasting, physical function and psychological measures.<h4>Methods</h4>We aim to recruit 45 patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer initiating neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients will be randomized to receive either Resistance Exercise (RE) (n = 15), Resistance Exercise and Protein Supplementation (RE + PS) (n = 15), or Attention Control (AC) (n = 15). Patients randomized to RE or RE + PS will receive 16-weeks of home-based virtually supervised resistance exercise. The AC will receive a 16-week stretching program. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline and after 16 weeks during study visits.<h4>Discussion</h4>The REBUILD trial is the first randomized controlled trial that combines resistance exercise with daily protein supplementation during neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients. Our novel home-based virtually supervised exercise intervention seeks to mitigate barriers to participation in this vulnerable population. Furthermore, results of this trial will address important research gaps associated with pancreatic cancer-related cachexia, a condition closely connected with poor prognosis and mortality.
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spelling doaj-art-2c1725224ea7477f8c072ab9291cd0ca2025-08-20T02:16:09ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01205e032219210.1371/journal.pone.0322192Resistance exercise combined with protein supplementation for skeletal muscle mass in people with pancreatic cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Study protocol for the REBUILD trial.Paola Gonzalo-EncaboJohn GardinerMary K NorrisRebekah L WilsonAmber J NormannDanny NguyenNathan ParkerDarryl TjogasLauren K BraisJeffrey A MeyerhardtMichael H RosenthalBrian M WolpinHajime UnoChristina M Dieli-Conwright<h4>Background</h4>Pancreatic cancer patients' prognosis may be limited by two conditions, cachexia and sarcopenia. Resistance exercise and protein supplementation are safe non-pharmacological strategies that may increase or preserve skeletal muscle mass within this population. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of a home-based virtually supervised resistance exercise intervention, with or without protein supplementation in pancreatic cancer patients initiating neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This intervention may also maintain skeletal muscle mass and improve plasma biomarkers associated with muscle tissue wasting, physical function and psychological measures.<h4>Methods</h4>We aim to recruit 45 patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer initiating neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients will be randomized to receive either Resistance Exercise (RE) (n = 15), Resistance Exercise and Protein Supplementation (RE + PS) (n = 15), or Attention Control (AC) (n = 15). Patients randomized to RE or RE + PS will receive 16-weeks of home-based virtually supervised resistance exercise. The AC will receive a 16-week stretching program. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline and after 16 weeks during study visits.<h4>Discussion</h4>The REBUILD trial is the first randomized controlled trial that combines resistance exercise with daily protein supplementation during neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients. Our novel home-based virtually supervised exercise intervention seeks to mitigate barriers to participation in this vulnerable population. Furthermore, results of this trial will address important research gaps associated with pancreatic cancer-related cachexia, a condition closely connected with poor prognosis and mortality.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322192
spellingShingle Paola Gonzalo-Encabo
John Gardiner
Mary K Norris
Rebekah L Wilson
Amber J Normann
Danny Nguyen
Nathan Parker
Darryl Tjogas
Lauren K Brais
Jeffrey A Meyerhardt
Michael H Rosenthal
Brian M Wolpin
Hajime Uno
Christina M Dieli-Conwright
Resistance exercise combined with protein supplementation for skeletal muscle mass in people with pancreatic cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Study protocol for the REBUILD trial.
PLoS ONE
title Resistance exercise combined with protein supplementation for skeletal muscle mass in people with pancreatic cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Study protocol for the REBUILD trial.
title_full Resistance exercise combined with protein supplementation for skeletal muscle mass in people with pancreatic cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Study protocol for the REBUILD trial.
title_fullStr Resistance exercise combined with protein supplementation for skeletal muscle mass in people with pancreatic cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Study protocol for the REBUILD trial.
title_full_unstemmed Resistance exercise combined with protein supplementation for skeletal muscle mass in people with pancreatic cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Study protocol for the REBUILD trial.
title_short Resistance exercise combined with protein supplementation for skeletal muscle mass in people with pancreatic cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Study protocol for the REBUILD trial.
title_sort resistance exercise combined with protein supplementation for skeletal muscle mass in people with pancreatic cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy study protocol for the rebuild trial
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322192
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