Overview
Cancer cachexia is a common and prognostically relevant complication of advanced malignancies, characterized by systemic inflammation, increased catabolism, and reduced nutritional intake, leading to a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, physical performance, and quality of life. Muscle wasting negatively affects the tolerability and efficacy of oncological therapies and exacerbates distressing symptoms such as fatigue. Consequently, international guidelines recommend combined nutritional and exercise interventions as key components of supportive cancer care. However, due to treatment-related limitations, conventional exercise programs are often difficult to implement, highlighting the need for feasible, time-efficient, and individually adaptable training concepts suitable for daily life.
In addition, adequate protein-rich nutrition is essential and may be supported by targeted nutritional supplementation. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects and beneficial influences on nutritional status, quality of life, and potentially skeletal muscle mass.
The aim of the present project is to investigate, in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, whether the combination of progressive resistance training (twice-weekly TheraBand-based exercise) and omega-3 supplementation (daily intake of 2 g EPA and 1 g DHA administered as fish oil capsules) can improve muscle status, physical performance, and patient-relevant outcomes such as quality of life, appetite, and fatigue in cancer patients at high risk of developing cancer cachexia.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients with malignant tumors undergoing curative or palliative treatment, including breast, ovarian, esophageal, pancreatic, gastric, colon, rectal, and prostate cancer, across all UICC stages
- Women and men aged 18 years or older
- ECOG performance status 0-2
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients younger than 18 years
- Bone metastases or skeletal involvement associated with a high risk of fracture
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Patients with psychiatric disorders that raise concerns regarding decision-making capacity or ability to provide informed consent
- Participation in other exercise and/or nutritional intervention studies within the previous 3 months
- Current use of fish oil supplements
- Severe cardiovascular disease, NYHA class IV