RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Evaluation of Seismocardiography(SCG) for Assessing Fitness and Predicting Outcomes in Oesophageal Cancer Surgery

Oesophageal cancer treatment often involves chemotherapy and major surgery, which can be tough on the body. Knowing how fit a patient is before treatment helps doctors decide the best plan and reduce risks. Traditionally, a long and expensive exercise test (CPET) is used to check fitness. This study is testing a new, small device called Seismofit. It measures fitness quickly while you lie down, using heart vibrations. We want to see if Seismofit can accurately predict complications and hospital stays for oesophageal cancer patients undergoing treatment. We'll also compare its results to the traditional CPET test to see if it's a good alternative.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

164

Start

01 Oct 2025

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2027

Oesophageal Cancer Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma Prehabilitation Oesophagectomy Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

What is this study about?

Oesophageal cancer is a serious condition, and its treatment often involves a combination of chemotherapy (or similar treatments) and major surgery. These treatments can be very demanding on your body. Because of this, it's really important for doctors to understand how fit a patient is before they start treatment. This helps them make the best decisions about your care and to try and reduce the chances of problems happening after surgery.

Currently, to measure someone's fitness, doctors often use a special exercise test called Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET). This test can take a long time, sometimes up to an hour, and needs special equipment and trained staff. It can also be quite tiring for patients who are already dealing with a lot.

This study is looking at a new device called Seismofit. It's a small device, even smaller than a smartphone, that measures your fitness in a completely different way. You simply lie down, and it measures tiny vibrations made by your heart. It then uses this information, along with your height, weight, age, and gender, to work out your fitness level very quickly – in less than three minutes! While this device has been tested in healthy people, it hasn't been widely studied in oesophageal cancer patients going through treatment. We want to see if it works well for them, too, and if it can help doctors predict how you might recover and how long you might need to stay in hospital. We will also compare Seismofit's results with the traditional CPET test to see how accurate it is for cancer patients.

Key takeaways

This study is about testing a new, quick fitness device for oesophageal cancer patients.
The device, Seismofit, measures fitness using heart vibrations in under three minutes.
The aim is to see if Seismofit can predict recovery and hospital stays after surgery and treatment.
It will also compare Seismofit's accuracy against traditional, longer fitness tests.
Participation will involve simple, quick measurements at different points during your treatment.
Your cancer treatment will not be changed by taking part in this study.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you must be an adult aged 18 or over and have been diagnosed with a specific type of oesophageal cancer (called oesophageal or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma). Your medical team must be planning for you to have treatment with chemotherapy or similar medicine, followed by surgery to remove the cancer, with the aim of curing the disease. You also need to be able to understand the study and agree to take part.

You would not be able to join if you are pregnant or under 18. Also, if your doctors plan to do surgery first without any chemotherapy beforehand, or if you are having a different type of treatment called chemoradiotherapy. Patients with a different kind of oesophageal cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) or those who have pacemakers or similar implanted devices, cannot take part. Finally, if your medical team has decided you are not suitable for oesophageal cancer surgery, you would also not be eligible.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Have you been diagnosed with oesophageal or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma?
Are you planning to have chemotherapy (or similar treatment) followed by surgery with the aim of a cure?
Do you *not* have an implanted device like a pacemaker?
Are you *not* pregnant?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you will have measurements taken with the Seismofit device at several points during your cancer treatment. This will include before you start your chemotherapy or similar medicines, possibly again during this treatment, and then before your surgery. These measurements are quick, taking less than three minutes each, and simply involve lying down while the small device is placed on your body. You will continue to receive your standard cancer treatment as planned by your medical team. We will also compare your Seismofit results to any traditional CPET fitness tests you might have as part of your usual care. The study will mainly involve collecting information from these measurements and your medical records, without adding many extra appointments to your schedule. The total duration of your participation would cover your full course of treatment, including the follow-up after surgery, to see how you recover.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might help improve how doctors assess fitness for future oesophageal cancer patients, potentially leading to better care for others. For you personally, there are no direct medical benefits, as the Seismofit device does not change your treatment. It's a very low-risk study; the Seismofit measurement is non-invasive and painless, and simply involves lying down for a few minutes. As with any study, you are free to withdraw at any time without giving a reason, and your decision will not affect your medical care.

Locations (4)

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
Verified postcode
Guildford, United Kingdom· Active not recruiting
Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom· Recruiting
Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom· Recruiting
University Hospital Southampton
Verified postcode
Southampton, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is oesophageal cancer?

Oesophageal cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the gullet, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach.

What is Seismofit and how does it work?

Seismofit is a small device that quickly estimates your physical fitness by measuring tiny vibrations from your heart while you lie down. It's painless and takes less than three minutes.

Will taking part in this study change my treatment?

No, your cancer treatment plan will not change if you join this study. You will still receive the standard care recommended by your doctors.

Is the Seismofit test safe?

Yes, the Seismofit test is very safe. It's a non-invasive measurement, meaning nothing enters your body, and it simply involves lying still.

What is the main goal of this study?

The main goal is to find out if the quick Seismofit test can accurately predict how well oesophageal cancer patients will recover after treatment and surgery, and if it's as good as or better than longer, traditional fitness tests.

How to find out more

Kesav Aditya Vijayagopal, DMS

kesav.vijayagopal1@nhs.net +447706649746 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.