Multimodal Prehabilitation in Gastric Cancer Patients (PING-P)

September 23, 2026 updated by: National University Hospital, Singapore

Impact of Multimodal Prehabilitation on INflammation in Patients Undergoing Gastric Cancer Surgery - a Pilot Study (PING-P-Trial)

This single-arm phase II trial investigates whether a multimodal prehabilitation program can attenuate the postoperative inflammatory response in patients undergoing curative gastric cancer surgery. Major abdominal surgery induces a pronounced systemic inflammatory reaction that contributes to postoperative complications, delayed recovery, impaired functional status, and reduced tolerance to adjuvant therapy. Elevated postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) trajectories have been associated with infectious complications, whereas a timely decline in CRP may reflect a more adequate immune response. Interventions that improve nutritional status, physical fitness, and psychological resilience before surgery may modulate these inflammatory processes.

The PING-P intervention combines three components starting two weeks before surgery and continuing for three weeks postoperatively: (1) structured exercise including resistance, aerobic and respiratory training supported by pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy to both thighs twice weekly; (2) individualized nutritional therapy with counseling and provision of omega-3-enriched high-protein oral nutritional supplements twice daily to achieve ≥1.2 g/kg/day protein intake; and (3) psychological support using coaching and digital relaxation tools. The program is delivered in hospital and at home using a mobile application with regular monitoring and feedback.

The primary objective is to evaluate whether this multimodal approach reduces the proportion of patients with a poor postoperative immune response, defined as either a CRP peak ≥166 mg/L or a decrease from peak CRP to two days later of <35%. CRP will be measured from postoperative day (POD) 1 to POD7 or until discharge.

Secondary objectives include assessment of feasibility (recruitment, retention, and adherence to ONS intake, PEMF sessions, and exercises), postoperative infectious and overall complications, intervention-related adverse events, functional recovery, nutritional status, body composition, and quality of life.

Adults with histologically proven gastric or esophagogastric junction cancer (Siewert II-III) scheduled for minimally-invasive curative gastrectomy at National University Hospital and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore, will be enrolled. Exclusion criteria include distant metastases, emergency surgery, need for preoperative tube or parenteral feeding, inability to follow the program, or contraindications to oral nutrition.

A total of 25 participants will be recruited. The study will provide first data on whether targeted multimodal prehabilitation can favorably modify perioperative inflammation and inform the design of a future randomized trial.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

25

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Singapore
      • Singapore, Singapore, 119079
        • Recruiting
        • National University Hospital
        • 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

Ages Eligible for Study

22 years to 99 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Adult patients (22 to 99 years).
  2. Histologically confirmed gastric or esophagogastric junction cancer (Siewert type II/III).
  3. Scheduled for curative surgery (laparoscopic or robotic subtotal, total, or proximal gastrectomy).
  4. No distant metastasis (M0).
  5. Tolerating oral intake.
  6. Limited esophageal involvement (≤2 cm), no duodenal invasion. 6.7. Patients with musculoskeletal limitations (exercises will be adopted accordingly) 7.8. Informed consent provided and capable of complying with home-based program.

8.9. No indication for total parenteral or tube feeding. 9.10. ECOG status compatible with intervention. 10.11. ASA class I-III.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Cognitive impairment, dementia, or psychiatric illness preventing consent or compliance.
  2. Emergency surgery or intraoperative conversion to open surgery.
  3. Need for preoperative enteral or parenteral feeding.
  4. Severe comorbidities requiring multiple organ resection (except cholecystectomy).
  5. Allergy or intolerance to components of the ONS product.
  6. Severe mMotor impairments affecting ability to perform exercises or complete outcome assessments.
  7. Patients under palliative care or rejecting curative treatment.
  8. Pregnant and lactating females
  9. Existing active electronic implants (e.g., pacemaker, defibrillator) or electromechanical medical device (e.g. insulin pump)
  10. Inflamed areas or skin eruptions on the legs

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: multimodal prehabilitation
Device: prehabilitation

multimodal prehabilitaiton including PEMF therapy, omega-3- fatty acids enriched high-protein oral nutritional supplement, exercise, app-based support

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of participants with poor postoperative immune response
Time Frame: From postoperative day 1 through postoperative day 7

Composite endpoint defined as either:

  1. C-reactive Protein peak ≥ 166 mg/L OR
  2. relative decrease in C-reactive Protein from peak to two days later < 35%

C-reactive protein will be measured from postoperative day 1 through postoperative day 7.
From postoperative day 1 through postoperative day 7

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

National University Hospital, Singapore

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)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 8, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 23, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2025 PINGP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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