title: The effect of radical treatment and rehabilitation on muscle mass and strength: a randomized trial in stages I-III lung cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about the impact of an oncological treatment on muscle mass and strength in patients with lung cancer and the impact of a subsequent rehabilitation program. This study investigates the effect of radical treatment and post-treatment pulmonary rehabilitation on muscle mass and strength in patients with lung cancer and the relationship between muscle mass and strength.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lung cancer patients, candidate for radical treatment, were randomly (2:1) allocated after radical treatment to either standard follow up (CON) or a 12-week rehabilitation training program (RT). Muscle mass was estimated by bioelectric impedance and CT-scan. Muscle strength was estimated by measuring quadriceps force (QF) with a hand held dynamometer. All variables were measured before (M1) and after radical treatment (M2), and at the earliest 12 weeks after randomization (M3). Data are presented as means with standard deviation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  45 lung cancer patients (age: 65 years (9)) participated in the study. At M2, both muscle cross sectional area (MCSA) and QF were significantly decreased (p<0.05). 28 patients were randomized. 13/18 RT and 9/10 CON patients ended the trial. At M3, RT-patients improved significantly their MCSA compared to CON-patients (ΔMCSA: 6 cm(2) (6) (p=0.003) vs. 1cm(2) (11) (p=0.8)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Muscle mass and strength: (1) are decreased at presentation in a substantial part of lung cancer patients; (2) are significantly negatively affected by radical treatment and (3) completely recover after a 12 week structured rehabilitation program, whereas a further decline was observed in CON-patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. Electronic address: Bihiyga.Salhi@UGent.be.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huysse
authors.affiliation: Biostatistical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Maele
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: V F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Surmont
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Derom
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium; Thoracic Oncology, MOCA, Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: van Meerbeeck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009929:Organ Size; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Body composition; Lung cancer; Muscle weakness; Radical treatment