DAHANCA 25B: Progressive Resistance Training as Intervention for Regaining Muscle Mass After Radiation Therapy in Patients With HNSCC

Progressive Resistance Training as Intervention for Regaining Muscle Mass After Radiation Therapy in Patients With HNSCC - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Head and neck cancer patients often experience a critical weight loss of around 10% following radiation therapy. Of this up to 70% is muscle mass and is an independent predictor of mortality, lowers muscle strength and functional performance. The purpose of this study is in a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of progressive resistance training (PRET) on changes in muscle mass, muscle strength and functional performance in head and neck cancer survivors. The investigators hypothesize that PRET has a positive effect on all primary endpoints and increases muscle mass, muscle strength and functional performance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically diagnosed with squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx (no glottis stage I+II), pharynx, oral cavity or in lymph nodes from an unknown primary tumour (stage I-IV and tumour node metastasis (TNM) classification, UICC, Geneva, 1987)
• Terminated curative radiotherapy treatment with/without chemotherapy;
• No metastases
• Complete tumour remission
• No current or previous malignancies that could prevent participation and training
• No excessive alcohol intake (men > 21 and women > 14 units/wk)
• No recent systematic resistance training or creatine ingestion (within 2 months)
• If woman, not pregnant
• WHO performance status of 0-1
• No psychological, social or geographical conditions that could disturb participation
• Written consent