Chemo Brain Prehab Project

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Colorectal Cancer, Older Adults (60 - 85 Years Old), Physically Inactive, Chemotherapy

In brief

Colorectal cancer is 37% higher in the North West than the national average and is treated by chemotherapy, including fluorouracil, capecitabine, and oxaliplatin. A side effect of these drugs is loss of memory, forgetfulness, and general brain fog, which can persist for months after the end of treatment. These symptoms are collectively known as 'chemo-brain'. An existing prehabilitation intervention that has been previously developed will be used, which increases fitness and reduces hospital length of stay in colorectal cancer surgery patients, to try to improve the symptoms of chemo-brain in those undergoing chemotherapy and improve quality of life.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07341217

Run by

Dr. Chris Gaffney

People needed

86

Starts

2026-01-30

Expected to finish

2027-09-16

Last updated by the study team

2026-01-14

Who can join

Age: 60 and older, up to 85. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Individuals with stage II or III colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy with fluorouracil, capecitabine, or oxaliplatin.
• Aged 60-85 years old.
• Fluent in English
• Male and female participants
• Not engaged in structured exercise training* within the six months before providing consent.

You may not qualify if…

• Presence of comorbidities that may significantly alter the metabolic response to exercise (e.g., diabetes mellitus).
• Current musculoskeletal injury or physical limitations that prevent completion of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
• Any contraindication to the multivitamin supplementation (Forceval), including known hypercalcaemia, haemochromatosis, peanut or soya allergy, current use of phenytoin or tetracycline antibiotics, and clinically significant impaired renal or hepatic function.
• Evidence of pre-existing cognitive impairment, including diagnosis of dementia, other neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), or clinically indicated mild cognitive impairment.
• Diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and haematological malignancy.
• Participants without home internet access will be excluded due to the online delivery of the exercise programme.
• Diagnosis of profound hearing loss.
• Receiving palliative care.
• Presence of synchronous cancer.
• Structured exercise refers to planned and organised physical activity, such as gym workouts, exercise classes or a team sport, which are designed to improve or maintain physical fitness, often with instruction, rules, and goals.

Where it is running

• East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust — Blackburn, Lancashire, United Kingdom
• University Hospitals Morecambe Bay Trust, Royal Lancaster Infirmary — Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom
• Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust — Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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