Effect of Pre-operative Exercise Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Patients With Locally Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Induction Chemo-immunotherapy Followed by Surgery - a Randomized Controlled Study

Summary

The PREHAB study focuses on patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy prior to surgical resection. These systemic treatments frequently impair patients' physiological reserve, reduce physical fitness, and may occasionally lead to cancellation of surgery. Surgery itself carries a substantial risk of cardiorespiratory complications and long-term functional decline. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether a supervised exercise program, initiated concomitantly with systemic therapy and continued until surgery, can improve cardiorespiratory fitness, surgical tolerance, and postoperative outcomes. A total of 74 patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: an "intervention" group participating in three weekly sessions of supervised endurance and resistance training for 12 to 16 weeks under the guidance of a physiotherapist, and a "control" group receiving usual care without a structured exercise program. The primary endpoint will be peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak). Secondary outcomes will include postoperative complication rates, length of hospital stay, pulmonary function, skeletal muscle mass, and quality of life. Intervention-related risks, primarily falls or overexertion, will be mitigated through professional supervision. This multicenter study, with recruitment scheduled to begin in 2026, is expected to provide robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of targeted exercise training in improving preoperative fitness and postoperative recovery in patients with locally advanced NSCLC.