Feasibility and efficacy of progressive resistance training and dietary supplements in radiotherapy treated head and neck cancer patients – the DAHANCA 25A study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Patient flow diagram.

Table I. Characteristics of included patients and patients who completed the intervention in the two groups.

Characteristics of patients	PROCR group (included)	PROCR group (completers)	PLA group (included)	PLA group (completers)
Number, n	16	14	14	7
Median age (range), y	56 (27–72)	56 (27–72)	59 (40–68)	60 (45–68)
Body weight, (at time of inclusion), kg	71.0 ± 12.1	69.7 ± 10.6	72.7 ± 11.0	67.9 ± 12.1
Weight loss (range), kg	10.5 ± 7.7 (2.9–30.0)	9.2 ± 4.9 (2.9–21.0)	8.5 ± 7.5 (28.0–24.1)	6.9 ± 4.4 (0.1–12.9)
Relative weight loss
> 8.5% < 8.5%	12 (75%) 4 (25%)	11 (79%) 3 (21%)	11 (79%) 3 (21%)	6 (86%) 1 (14%)
Gender
Women Men	5 (31%) 11 (69%)	5 (36%) 9 (64%)	2 (14%) 12 (86%)	2 (28%) 5 (72%)
Tumor site
Pharynx Larynx Oral cavity Metastasis from unknown primary tumor Pharynx and larynx Cavum Nasi/nasopharynx*	11 (69%) 1 (6%) 0 (0%) 3 (19%) 0 (0%) 1 (6%)	9 (65%) 1 (7%) 0 (0%) 3 (21%) 0 (0%) 1 (7%)	9 (65%) 2 (14%) 2 (14%) 0 (0%) 1 (7%) 0 (0%)	5 (72%) 1 (14%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (14%) 0 (0%)
Stage
I–II III–IV**	0 (0%) 16 (100%)	0 (0%) 14 (100%)	1 (7%) 13 (93%)	0 (0%) 7 (100%)
Treatment
Radiation therapy alone Chemoradiation therapy	7 (44%) 9 (56%)	7 (50%) 7 (50%)	3 (21%) 11 (79%)	1 (14%) 6 (86%)
HPV status
Positive Negative	10 (63%) 6 (37%)	10 (71%) 4 (29%)	8 (57%) 6 (43%)	5 (71%) 2 (29%)
Feeding tube
Yes No	10 (63%) 6 (37%)	10 (71%) 4 (29%)	9 (64%) 5 (36%)	5 (71%) 2 (29%)
WHO performance status 0-1	16 (100%)	14 (100%)	14 (100%)	7 (100%)
Smoking status
Never Ever/current	6 (38%) 10 (62%)	6 (43%) 8 (57%)	4 (29%) 10 (71%)	2 (29%) 5 (71%)
Energy intake (kJ)
Total Protein (% from total energy intake) Protein (g/kg BW/day) Fat (% from total energy intake) Carbohydrates (% from total energy intake)	– – – – –	9880 ± 1921 1579 ± 405 (16%) 1.3 ± 0.4 3561 ± 1202 (36%) 4214 ± 1178 (43%)	– – – – –	12057 ± 3492 1719 ± 520 (14%) 1.4 ± 0.5 4202 ± 1936 (34%) 553 ± 1460 (47%)

BW, body weight; KJ, kilojoules; weight loss, loss of body weight following treatment. Unless stated otherwise values are presented as the absolute and relative number of patients and mean ± SEM. *One patient was diagnosed with a tumor on the border of cavum nasi and nasopharynx, treated as the latter and thus included in the study. **Includes patients with metastasis from an unknown primary tumor.

Figure 2. Change in body composition (kg) following 12 weeks of PRT. *p < 0.05. †p = 0.07. Values presented as mean change ± SEM.

Figure 3. Change in isometric and isokinetic muscle strength following 12 weeks of PRT (Newton-meters). *p < 0.05. Values presented as mean change ± SEM. KE: knee extension, KF: knee flexion.

Figure 4. Change in functional performance following 12 weeks of PRT. *p < 0.05. Values presented as mean change ± SEM.