Prehabilitation for Ovarian Cancer Patients

May 28, 2026 updated by: Nova Scotia Health Authority

The Impact of Prehabilitation Exercise on Frailty and Treatment Outcomes in Ovarian Cancer Patients

Individuals with ovarian cancer have very poor survival rates. This is because the cancer is not usually detected until it has reached advanced stages. How long an individual survives also is determined by the cancer treatment they receive. Although there are best treatment practices to improve survival, some women have other conditions that limit treatment options. One such condition seen in as many as 50% of women with advanced ovarian cancer is frailty (an age-related decline in function and health). This is a major concern as doctors will often have to change how the cancer is treated based on the patient being frail. For example, patients living with frailty are less likely to have their full tumor removed during surgery. They are also more likely to have complications with surgery, stay in the hospital longer, and recover less well from surgery overall. Patients living with frailty also are more likely to experience delays in their chemotherapy starting, receive lower doses of chemotherapy and/or receive fewer cycles of chemotherapy. These changes in treatment may decrease how long a patient survives after diagnosis. Thus, research is needed to explore strategies to decrease frailty in patients who require treatment for advanced ovarian cancer. An option gaining more attention is physical exercise (e.g. walking, repeatedly rising from a chair). Exercise performed before surgery, which is called prehabilitation, can improve how well a patient recovers after surgery and increase how long they survive. Research has shown that prehabilitation is very beneficial for patients undergoing surgery for heart disease. However, it is not clear whether prehabilitation works for those with advanced ovarian cancer that are going to have surgery. Therefore, the investigators want to explore how a 4+ week exercise program performed while waiting for surgery for advanced ovarian cancer changes frailty and how a patient recovers after surgery. The investigators will specifically look whether the exercise program: 1) reduces how frail a patient is before surgery; 2) improves how well the patient recovers after surgery; and 3) affects the patient's chemotherapy treatment plan. This study will provide important information about the ability of prehabilitation exercise to improve surgical and treatment outcomes in women with advanced ovarian cancer. Overall, it is believed that exercise has the potential to improve the survival of advanced ovarian cancer patients.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
108

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Scott Grandy, PhD
  • Phone Number: 902-494-1145
  • Email: grandy@dal.ca

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Nova Scotia
      • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3L 4P1
        • Recruiting
        • Nova Scotia Health
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 years or older
  • Have a confirmed diagnosis of stage III or IV ovarian cancer
  • Scheduled to receive cytoreductive surgery as part of their treatment plan
  • Must have a minimum of 4-weeks between the time of study enrollment and scheduled surgery
  • Be able to attend in-person and/or virtual exercise sessions
  • Be fluent in English
  • Have oncologist approval

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Have already completed surgery
  • Unstable cardiac or respiratory disease, injury or any other co-morbid disease that may make it unsafe for participants to exercise
  • Significant cognitive impairment (e.g., do not have the capacity to consent, unable to follow exercise instructions)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intervention
Circuit-based prehabilitation exercise intervention
Behavioral: Prehabilitation Exercise Intervention
The exercise intervention will consist of light-to-moderate intensity aerobic, resistance, and mobility exercises. These exercises will be performed in a circuit type manner. Participants will perform similar exercises that are modified to meet their individual abilities. Exercise intensity, modifications and substitutions will be determined for each participant based on their medical history, 6 minute walk test results, and baseline frailty scores. Exercise sessions will be performed 3x/wk beginning at 30 min and progressing to 60-min as tolerated for a minimum of four weeks but will continue up until the time of the participants surgery. A hybrid approach will be used for the exercise sessions whereby the participant must attend the first exercise session in person and subsequent sessions will be delivered virtually. Sessions will be overseen by the study Clinical Exercise Physiologist.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Frailty Change (baseline to post exercise intervention)
Time Frame: Change from baseline to end of 4+ week intervention (pre-surgery)
Frailty will be assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). The CFS is a The CFS is a 9-point scale (1 - very fit, through very severely frail to 9 - terminally ill) developed for healthcare professionals to summarize the overall level of fitness/frailty of an individual. The CFS covers domains of mobility, energy, physical activity, and function. The higher the score on the CFS the more frail/less fit an individual is.
Change from baseline to end of 4+ week intervention (pre-surgery)
Frailty Change (baseline to 1-month post surgery)
Time Frame: Change from baseline to about 1-month post-surgery
Frailty will be assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). The CFS is a The CFS is a 9-point scale (1 - very fit, through very severely frail to 9 - terminally ill) developed for healthcare professionals to summarize the overall level of fitness/frailty of an individual. The CFS covers domains of mobility, energy, physical activity, and function. The higher the score on the CFS the more frail/less fit an individual is.
Change from baseline to about 1-month post-surgery
Frailty Change (baseline to 3-months post surgery)
Time Frame: Change from baseline to about 3-month post-surgery
Frailty will be assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). The CFS is a The CFS is a 9-point scale (1 - very fit, through very severely frail to 9 - terminally ill) developed for healthcare professionals to summarize the overall level of fitness/frailty of an individual. The CFS covers domains of mobility, energy, physical activity, and function. The higher the score on the CFS the more frail/less fit an individual is.
Change from baseline to about 3-month post-surgery
Surgical Complexity Score (1-month post surgery)
Time Frame: Surgical complexity will be assessed about 1-month post-surgery.
Surgical complexity will be assessed based on Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines. Complexity scores will be interpreted as "low" (3 or fewer points), "intermediate" (4-7 points), and "high" (8 or more points).
Surgical complexity will be assessed about 1-month post-surgery.
Post-Surgical Outcomes (1-month post surgery)
Time Frame: Post-surgical outcomes will be assessed about 1-month post-surgery.
Post-surgical outcomes will be assessed based on Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines. Specific outcomes will include post-op glucose control, analgesia usage, pain, daily weight, early mobilization, and post-operative complications.
Post-surgical outcomes will be assessed about 1-month post-surgery.
Surgical Complications (1-month post surgery)
Time Frame: Surgical complications will be assessed post-surgery about 1-month post-surgery.
Surgical complications will be assessed based on Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines. Specific outcomes will include length of hospital stay and number of readmissions.
Surgical complications will be assessed post-surgery about 1-month post-surgery.
Chemotherapy completion rates (End of Cycle 1)
Time Frame: At the end of cycle 1 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.
Chemotherapy completion rates will be examined through documentation of total drug dose received, changes in dose, cycle delays, and/or discontinuation of treatment
At the end of cycle 1 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.
Chemotherapy completion rates (End of Cycle 2)
Time Frame: At the end of cycle 2 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.
Chemotherapy completion rates will be examined through documentation of total drug dose received, changes in dose, cycle delays, and/or discontinuation of treatment
At the end of cycle 2 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.
Chemotherapy completion rates (End of Cycle 3)
Time Frame: At the end of cycle 3 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.
Chemotherapy completion rates will be examined through documentation of total drug dose received, changes in dose, cycle delays, and/or discontinuation of treatment
At the end of cycle 3 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.
Chemotherapy completion rates (End of Cycle 4)
Time Frame: At the end of cycle 4 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.
Chemotherapy completion rates will be examined through documentation of total drug dose received, changes in dose, cycle delays, and/or discontinuation of treatment
At the end of cycle 4 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.
Chemotherapy completion rates (End of Cycle 5)
Time Frame: At the end of cycle 5 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.
Chemotherapy completion rates will be examined through documentation of total drug dose received, changes in dose, cycle delays, and/or discontinuation of treatment
At the end of cycle 5 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.
Chemotherapy completion rates (End of Cycle 6)
Time Frame: At the end of cycle 6 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.
Chemotherapy completion rates will be examined through documentation of total drug dose received, changes in dose, cycle delays, and/or discontinuation of treatment
At the end of cycle 6 (each cycle is 3 weeks). Immediately after the procedure.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Body Mass Index Change (baseline to post exercise intervention)
Time Frame: Change in BMI from baseline to post 4+ week exercise intervention
Weight (kg) and height (m) will be used to calculate BMI
Change in BMI from baseline to post 4+ week exercise intervention
Body Mass Index Change (baseline to 1-month post surgery)
Time Frame: Change in BMI from baseline to about 1-month post surgery.
Weight (kg) and height (m) will be used to calculate BMI
Change in BMI from baseline to about 1-month post surgery.
Body Mass Index Change (baseline to 3-months post surgery)
Time Frame: Change in BMI from baseline to about 3-month post surgery.
Weight (kg) and height (m) will be used to calculate BMI
Change in BMI from baseline to about 3-month post surgery.
Aerobic Fitness Change (baseline to post exercise intervention)
Time Frame: Change in aerobic fitness from baseline to post 4+ week intervention (pre-surgery)
The six-minute walk will be used to calculate aerobic fitness
Change in aerobic fitness from baseline to post 4+ week intervention (pre-surgery)
Aerobic Fitness Change (baseline to 1-month post surgery)
Time Frame: Change in aerobic fitness from baseline to about 1-month post surgery
The six-minute walk will be used to calculate aerobic fitness
Change in aerobic fitness from baseline to about 1-month post surgery
Aerobic Fitness Change (baseline to 3-months post surgery)
Time Frame: Change in aerobic fitness from baseline to about 3-months post surgery
The six-minute walk will be used to calculate aerobic fitness
Change in aerobic fitness from baseline to about 3-months post surgery
Muscular Fitness Change (baseline to post exercise intervention)
Time Frame: Change in muscular fitness will be assessed from baseline to post exercise intervention (pre-surgery)
Muscular fitness will be assessed using the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology's Physical Activity Training Protocol (CSEP-PATH) and will include the timed sit-to-stand and grip strength.
Change in muscular fitness will be assessed from baseline to post exercise intervention (pre-surgery)
Muscular Fitness Change (baseline to about 1-month post surgery)
Time Frame: Change in muscular fitness will be assessed from baseline to 1-month post surgery.
Muscular fitness will be assessed using the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology's Physical Activity Training Protocol (CSEP-PATH) and will include the timed sit-to-stand and grip strength.
Change in muscular fitness will be assessed from baseline to 1-month post surgery.
Muscular Fitness Change (baseline to about 3-months post surgery)
Time Frame: Change in muscular fitness will be assessed from baseline to 3-months post surgery.
Muscular fitness will be assessed using the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology's Physical Activity Training Protocol (CSEP-PATH) and will include the timed sit-to-stand and grip strength.
Change in muscular fitness will be assessed from baseline to 3-months post surgery.
Health-Related Quality of Life Change (baseline to post exercise intervention
Time Frame: Chang in health-related quality of life from baseline to post 4+ week intervention (pre-surgery)
Health-related quality of life will be assess using the EuroQoL five dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). The EQ-5D-DL measures mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression; higher scores indicate higher problems
Chang in health-related quality of life from baseline to post 4+ week intervention (pre-surgery)
Health-Related Quality of Life Change (baseline to 1-month post surgery)
Time Frame: Chang in health-related quality of life from baseline to about 1-month post surgery
Health-related quality of life will be assess using the EuroQoL five dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). The EQ-5D-DL measures mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression; higher scores indicate higher problems
Chang in health-related quality of life from baseline to about 1-month post surgery
Health-Related Quality of Life Change (baseline to 3-months post surgery)
Time Frame: Change in health-related quality of life from baseline to about 3-months post surgery
Health-related quality of life will be assess using the EuroQoL five dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). The EQ-5D-DL measures mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression; higher scores indicate higher problems
Change in health-related quality of life from baseline to about 3-months post surgery
Physical, Functional, Emotional, and Social/Family Quality of Life Change (baseline to post exercise intervention)
Time Frame: Change in FACT-O from baseline to post 4+ week intervention (pre-surgery)
The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Ovarian Cancer (FACT-O) will be used to measure cancer-specific quality of life; 27-item questionnaire with higher scores indicating higher overall quality of life.
Change in FACT-O from baseline to post 4+ week intervention (pre-surgery)
Physical, Functional, Emotional, and Social/Family Quality of Life Change (baseline to 1-month post surgery)
Time Frame: Change in FACT-O from baseline to about 1-month post surgery
The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Ovarian Cancer (FACT-O) will be used to measure cancer-specific quality of life; 27-item questionnaire with higher scores indicating higher overall quality of life.
Change in FACT-O from baseline to about 1-month post surgery
Physical, Functional, Emotional, and Social/Family Quality of Life Change (baseline to 3-months post surgery)
Time Frame: Change in FACT-O from baseline to about 3-months post surgery
The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Ovarian Cancer (FACT-O) will be used to measure cancer-specific quality of life; 27-item questionnaire with higher scores indicating higher overall quality of life.
Change in FACT-O from baseline to about 3-months post surgery

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Study Feasibility - Participant Accrual
Time Frame: Throughout study completion, about 2 years
Participant accrual calculated as % of patients referred divided by number of patients consented to participation
Throughout study completion, about 2 years
Study Feasibility - Participant Attrition
Time Frame: Through study completion, about 2 years
Participant attrition calculated as % of consented patients who complete a minimum of 4 weeks of pre-surgical exercise divided by number who withdraw
Through study completion, about 2 years
Study Feasibility - Participant Adherence
Time Frame: Throughout study completion, about 2 years
Participant program adherence calculated as % of minimum number of exercise sessions completed (e.g., 3 sessions/week for a minimum of 4 weeks for a total of 12 sessions) divided by total number of available exercise sessions over 12-week intervention
Throughout study completion, about 2 years
Adverse Events
Time Frame: Throughout study completion, about 2 years
All exercise-related adverse and serious adverse will be recorded
Throughout study completion, about 2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Nova Scotia Health Authority

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Dalhousie University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Scott Grandy, PhD, Nova Scotia Health

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 3, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 30, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 4, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 6, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 28, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • NSH Adv Ovarian Cancer Prehab

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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