Influence of Whole Body Electromyostimulation and Nutritional Therapy for Patients With Esophageal and Bronchial Carcinoma in Curative and Palliative Treatment

Tumor specific and inflammation promoting mediators lead to a loss of appetite, to systemic inflammation processes and to metabolic and hormonal changes including anabolic resistance. Consequences hereof are a decreased food uptake, a deteriorated nutrient utilization and a loss of muscles and/or fat leading to cancer cachexia. In addition, an accelerated muscle wasting can be a side effect of the oncologic therapy promoting cancer cachexia even further. The advancing muscle loss induces diminishing physical capability, a decreased tolerance of oncological therapy, functional losses even reaching loss of independence and a worsened prognosis.

The purpose of this study is to establish an innovative combined therapy involving protein-rich nutritional therapy and highly effective muscle training by personalized whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) exercise to improve muscle mass, functionality and strength of esophageal and bronchial carcinoma patients in advanced stage. An increase in muscle mass and strength leads to an increase in physical activity, physical capability as well as tolerance to and applicability of tumor therapy. In the course of a 3-months intervention study the efficacy of a combined protein-rich nutritional therapy with an innovative exercise therapy will be documented for patients with esophageal and bronchial carcinoma in advanced or metastatic stage. An effective stopping of the progress of muscle wasting or even increase of muscle mass, strength and function in the patients of the trial would benefit each patient and his family individually, since it could mean a considerable improvement in his quality of life and tolerability of oncological treatment.