Development and feasibility of an exercise therapy intervention for older women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer referred to neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to possible interval debulking surgery

Eva Jespersen; Cristina Daviu Cobián; Trine L Jørgensen; Lisbeth R Minet; Tine H Schnack; Anders Vinther

doi:10.1016/j.gore.2024.101441

Development and feasibility of an exercise therapy intervention for older women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer referred to neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to possible interval debulking surgery

Eva Jespersen^*
, Cristina Daviu Cobián
, Trine L Jørgensen
, Lisbeth R Minet
, Tine H Schnack
, Anders Vinther

^*Corresponding author for this work

Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the development and examines the feasibility of an exercise therapy program for women aged 70 years or older with advanced EOC, receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before possible major surgery.

METHODS: In this feasibility study, patients participated in a mainly home-based exercise therapy program, including progressive resistance training, physical activity, and support from the supervising physiotherapist. The program included both supervised virtual and face-to-face sessions and self-administered daily exercise. Clinician-reported, patient-reported and physical performance measures were collected before and after NACT. Retention, adherence, and compliance to the program was monitored, and patient acceptability was explored in semi-structured interviews.

RESULTS: Fifteen patients, median age of 77 years (range 70-85) completed the exercise therapy program concurrently to receiving NACT lasting a median of 12 weeks. Patients were physically frail at baseline but improved at follow-up on measures of performance status, level of frailty, patient-reported physical fitness, lower body strength, aerobic functional capacity, basic mobility, balance, and number of steps per day. High levels of participation were found to both supervised and self-administered exercise. Patient interviews highlighted the homebased setting, the individualised tailoring of exercises and the support from the physiotherapist as reasons to complete the exercise therapy program as prescribed.

CONCLUSIONS: The exercise therapy program was found to be feasible and acceptable in women aged 70 years or older with advanced EOC, receiving NACT before possible major surgery. The observed improvements and the positive experiences perceived by the patients support future application in research and clinical practice.

Original language	English
Article number	101441
Number of pages	10
Journal	Gynecologic Oncology Reports
Volume	54
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2024.101441
Publication status	Published - Aug 2024

Funding

We are very grateful to the patients who participated in this study. We would like to thank the Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Odense University Hospital and Zealand University Hospital, the Departments of Oncology at Odense University Hospital and Vejle Hospital, the Department of Geriatric Medicine at Odense University Hospital, the Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital and Vejle Hospital, for their enthusiasm and involvement in the project.This work is supported by the Region Sjaelland and Region Syddan-marks research fund, the Danish Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research. None of the funding bodies influenced the study design, data analysis, and interpretation or writing of the manuscript.

Funders
Region Sjælland
DCCC Radiotherapy

Keywords

Chemotherapy
Exercise acceptability
Exercise feasibility
Frailty
Ovarian cancer
Prehabilitation

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10.1016/j.gore.2024.101441Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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Jespersen, E., Daviu Cobián, C., Jørgensen, T. L., Minet, L. R., Schnack, T. H., & Vinther, A. (2024). Development and feasibility of an exercise therapy intervention for older women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer referred to neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to possible interval debulking surgery. Gynecologic Oncology Reports, 54, Article 101441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2024.101441

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title = "Development and feasibility of an exercise therapy intervention for older women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer referred to neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to possible interval debulking surgery",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: This study describes the development and examines the feasibility of an exercise therapy program for women aged 70 years or older with advanced EOC, receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before possible major surgery.METHODS: In this feasibility study, patients participated in a mainly home-based exercise therapy program, including progressive resistance training, physical activity, and support from the supervising physiotherapist. The program included both supervised virtual and face-to-face sessions and self-administered daily exercise. Clinician-reported, patient-reported and physical performance measures were collected before and after NACT. Retention, adherence, and compliance to the program was monitored, and patient acceptability was explored in semi-structured interviews.RESULTS: Fifteen patients, median age of 77 years (range 70-85) completed the exercise therapy program concurrently to receiving NACT lasting a median of 12 weeks. Patients were physically frail at baseline but improved at follow-up on measures of performance status, level of frailty, patient-reported physical fitness, lower body strength, aerobic functional capacity, basic mobility, balance, and number of steps per day. High levels of participation were found to both supervised and self-administered exercise. Patient interviews highlighted the homebased setting, the individualised tailoring of exercises and the support from the physiotherapist as reasons to complete the exercise therapy program as prescribed.CONCLUSIONS: The exercise therapy program was found to be feasible and acceptable in women aged 70 years or older with advanced EOC, receiving NACT before possible major surgery. The observed improvements and the positive experiences perceived by the patients support future application in research and clinical practice.",

keywords = "Chemotherapy, Exercise acceptability, Exercise feasibility, Frailty, Ovarian cancer, Prehabilitation",

author = "Eva Jespersen and \{Daviu Cobi{\'a}n\}, Cristina and J{\o}rgensen, \{Trine L\} and Minet, \{Lisbeth R\} and Schnack, \{Tine H\} and Anders Vinther",

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doi = "10.1016/j.gore.2024.101441",

language = "English",

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Jespersen, E, Daviu Cobián, C, Jørgensen, TL, Minet, LR, Schnack, TH & Vinther, A 2024, 'Development and feasibility of an exercise therapy intervention for older women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer referred to neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to possible interval debulking surgery', Gynecologic Oncology Reports, vol. 54, 101441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2024.101441

Development and feasibility of an exercise therapy intervention for older women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer referred to neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to possible interval debulking surgery. / Jespersen, Eva; Daviu Cobián, Cristina; Jørgensen, Trine L et al.
In: Gynecologic Oncology Reports, Vol. 54, 101441, 08.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Development and feasibility of an exercise therapy intervention for older women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer referred to neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to possible interval debulking surgery

AU - Jespersen, Eva

AU - Daviu Cobián, Cristina

AU - Jørgensen, Trine L

AU - Minet, Lisbeth R

AU - Schnack, Tine H

AU - Vinther, Anders

PY - 2024/8

Y1 - 2024/8

N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study describes the development and examines the feasibility of an exercise therapy program for women aged 70 years or older with advanced EOC, receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before possible major surgery.METHODS: In this feasibility study, patients participated in a mainly home-based exercise therapy program, including progressive resistance training, physical activity, and support from the supervising physiotherapist. The program included both supervised virtual and face-to-face sessions and self-administered daily exercise. Clinician-reported, patient-reported and physical performance measures were collected before and after NACT. Retention, adherence, and compliance to the program was monitored, and patient acceptability was explored in semi-structured interviews.RESULTS: Fifteen patients, median age of 77 years (range 70-85) completed the exercise therapy program concurrently to receiving NACT lasting a median of 12 weeks. Patients were physically frail at baseline but improved at follow-up on measures of performance status, level of frailty, patient-reported physical fitness, lower body strength, aerobic functional capacity, basic mobility, balance, and number of steps per day. High levels of participation were found to both supervised and self-administered exercise. Patient interviews highlighted the homebased setting, the individualised tailoring of exercises and the support from the physiotherapist as reasons to complete the exercise therapy program as prescribed.CONCLUSIONS: The exercise therapy program was found to be feasible and acceptable in women aged 70 years or older with advanced EOC, receiving NACT before possible major surgery. The observed improvements and the positive experiences perceived by the patients support future application in research and clinical practice.

AB - OBJECTIVE: This study describes the development and examines the feasibility of an exercise therapy program for women aged 70 years or older with advanced EOC, receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before possible major surgery.METHODS: In this feasibility study, patients participated in a mainly home-based exercise therapy program, including progressive resistance training, physical activity, and support from the supervising physiotherapist. The program included both supervised virtual and face-to-face sessions and self-administered daily exercise. Clinician-reported, patient-reported and physical performance measures were collected before and after NACT. Retention, adherence, and compliance to the program was monitored, and patient acceptability was explored in semi-structured interviews.RESULTS: Fifteen patients, median age of 77 years (range 70-85) completed the exercise therapy program concurrently to receiving NACT lasting a median of 12 weeks. Patients were physically frail at baseline but improved at follow-up on measures of performance status, level of frailty, patient-reported physical fitness, lower body strength, aerobic functional capacity, basic mobility, balance, and number of steps per day. High levels of participation were found to both supervised and self-administered exercise. Patient interviews highlighted the homebased setting, the individualised tailoring of exercises and the support from the physiotherapist as reasons to complete the exercise therapy program as prescribed.CONCLUSIONS: The exercise therapy program was found to be feasible and acceptable in women aged 70 years or older with advanced EOC, receiving NACT before possible major surgery. The observed improvements and the positive experiences perceived by the patients support future application in research and clinical practice.

KW - Chemotherapy

KW - Exercise acceptability

KW - Exercise feasibility

KW - Frailty

KW - Ovarian cancer

KW - Prehabilitation

U2 - 10.1016/j.gore.2024.101441

DO - 10.1016/j.gore.2024.101441

M3 - Article

C2 - 39040941

SN - 2352-5789

VL - 54

JO - Gynecologic Oncology Reports

JF - Gynecologic Oncology Reports

M1 - 101441

ER -

Development and feasibility of an exercise therapy intervention for older women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer referred to neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to possible interval debulking surgery

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

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