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Recruiting NCT06565052

NCT06565052 The Impact of PReOPerative Exercise and NutritionaL Optimization on Perioperative Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Treatment for Rectal Cancer: The PROPEL Trial

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT06565052
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Condition Rectal Cancer
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 40 participants
Start Date 2024-12-15
Primary Completion 2026-09-01

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Prehabilitation Program

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

This trial targets 40 participants in total. It began in 2024-12-15 with a primary completion date of 2026-09-01.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of a prehabilitation program for participants diagnosed with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation, followed by surgical resection. The names of the groups in this research study are: * Group A: Prehabilitation program * Group B: Usual Care

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age greater than or equal to 18 years at time of enrollment. * English-Speaking. * Diagnosis of clinical stage II-III rectal cancer. * Planned, ongoing or just completed neoadjuvant treatment, including either 1) chemoradiation, 2) total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), or 3) chemotherapy only; and anticipated surgical resection to follow. * Able to understand the study procedures, agree to participate in the study program, and voluntarily provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Distant metastatic disease known at the time of diagnosis. * Functional incapacity (i.e., incapable of performing exercise testing). * Comorbid conditions or cognitive/physical impairments that contraindicate exercise. * Currently undergoing treatment for a secondary primary tumor, in addition to primary rectal cancer. * Currently enrolled in a separate clinical trial that would prohibit them from performing the tasks instructed in this trial. * Currently participating in more than 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise per week over the past month. This study targets insufficiently active persons to assess the effect of the described intervention, where additional exercise done regularly will contaminate the intervention effects.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Jeffrey Meyerhardt, MD, MPH

✉ jeffrey_meyerhardt@dfci.harvard.edu

📞 617-632-6855

Principal Investigator

Jeffrey Meyerhardt, MD, MPH

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT06565052 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Rectal Cancer. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT06565052 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT06565052 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at jeffrey_meyerhardt@dfci.harvard.edu for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT06565052 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Boston, United States, Boston, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT06565052 clinical trial?

NCT06565052 is sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The principal investigator is Jeffrey Meyerhardt, MD, MPH at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The trial plans to enroll 40 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: July 2026  ·  Data Methodology