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Electric pulses and diet: a new weapon against muscle loss in stomach and bowel cancers?

NCT ID NCT06414122

Disease control Sponsor: University of Cologne Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether a combination of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) — a technology that uses electrical impulses to make muscles contract — and nutritional therapy can help people with certain gastrointestinal cancers preserve muscle mass. Participants include those with esophageal, stomach, duodenal, or colorectal cancer who have had surgery. The study compares WB-EMS plus nutritional coaching against conventional exercise and nutritional advice over 12 weeks.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
mid-frequency whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) combined with nutritional therapy
What this could lead to
If effective, this approach could offer a drug-free way to help people with gastrointestinal cancers maintain muscle mass and physical function during and after treatment.
What could go wrong
This is a relatively small, early-stage trial. The benefits of WB-EMS for muscle preservation in this specific cancer population are not yet proven, and the training requires medical clearance and may not be suitable for everyone.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 88 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Aug 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Aug 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with oesophageal, gastric, duodenal, colon or rectal cancer following surgery without further therapy and with neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy * medical clearance for exercise training * written declaration of consent from the study participant Exclusion Criteria: * Participation in another study on the topic of exercise or nutrition * Electronic implants such as pacemakers, pumps, and coronary stents * Cardiac arrhythmia * Implants in the area of application (e.g. breast implants) * Pregnancy * Epilepsy * Wounds and open skin diseases in the area of application of the electrodes * Unhealed operations or bone fractures * Acute inflammatory diseases (e.g. inflammation of the intervertebral discs, bones, vessels, or soft tissue) * Directly after herniated discs or other instabilities such as large abdominal wall hernias * Blood clots (thromboses) * Bone diseases with high-grade osteoporosis * Increased risk of haemorrhage * Fever and illnesses that can be aggravated by physical exertion * Untreated high blood pressure * Blindness * Continuous parenteral nutrition * Metal and electronic parts in the body (e.g. prostheses, metal vascular clips, hearing aids/inner ear/cochlear implants, magnetic dental prostheses, pacemakers, contraceptives)

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

carcinoma of duodenum colon carcinoma colorectal cancer colorectal neoplasm duodenum cancer esophageal cancer Esophageal Neoplasms gastric cancer gastric neoplasm rectal cancer

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Colorectal cancer Duodenal cancer Gastric cancer Oesophageal cancer

How to take part

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  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Universitätsklinikum Köln, Centrum für Integrierte Onkologie (CIO)

    Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, 50937, Germany

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