Extended Versus Short Prehabilitation Programme for Patients With Advanced Ovarian Cancer Undergoing Major Surgery

Standard treatment for advanced ovarian cancer includes a combination of cytotoxic chemotherapy and citorreductive surgery. During neo-adjuvant administration of chemotherapy, many patients experience a decline in their functional capacity, leading to an increased risk of postoperative complication as a combination of potential malnutrition, decreased physical activity levels and increased anxiety. Prehabilitation programs conducted within Enhanced Rescovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways have shown to reduce postoperative complications and length of hospital stay in a diverse group of cancer surgeries and, according to some preliminary evidence, can also increase tumour response in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of this study is to compare two modalities of prehabilitation (extended versus estandard) on postoperative complications and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A total of 225 patients will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to extended prehabilitation (initiated at the onset of neoadjuvant therapy) or standard prehabilitation (initiated after the course of neoadjuvant therapy is completed). In both groups the prehabilitation program will be delivered in the same manner, including supervised (virtual or facility-based) exercise training, nutritional optimization and psychological support and will be supported by a digital platform.