Effects of chemotherapy on skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS): Protocol paper for an observational mixed model repeated measures design in patients with breast and gynecological cancer

TL;DR

This study uses near-infrared spectroscopy to non-invasively assess how chemotherapy affects mitochondrial function in the skeletal muscles of breast and gynecological cancer patients.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel use of NIRS to evaluate mitochondrial oxidative capacity in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Findings

NIRS will be used to measure mitochondrial function during cycling exercise and recovery in cancer patients.

The study will assess longitudinal changes in mitochondrial function across different chemotherapy regimens.

Results will inform the feasibility of using NIRS for longitudinal mitochondrial monitoring in cancer care.

Abstract

Mitochondrial dysfunction, a hallmark of metabolic disturbances in the skeletal muscle, has previously been studied in health participants using invasive muscle biopsy and/or time consuming, high-cost magnetic resonance spectroscopy. However, less is understood regarding mitochondrial dysfunction in patients with cancer. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive and cost-effective approach to assessing mitochondrial function of skeletal muscle by measuring oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin and calculating the resulting tissue saturation index. NIRS has not yet been utilized to evaluate skeletal muscle change in cancer patients throughout chemotherapy. Therefore, we plan to conduct a single center clinical trial, using an observational mixed model repeated measures design to evaluate the change in mitochondrial oxidative capacity from baseline and throughout progression of an oncologist-prescribed chemotherapy regimen. Evaluation of mitochondrial function will be performed by taking real-time, NIRS in-situ measurements within the working muscle during stationary cycling exercise and subsequent recovery periods (e.g., “on” kinetics and “off” kinetics). We also plan to observe if there is a difference in mitochondrial oxidative capacity between different chemotherapy regimens across different patients. This pilot study will provide information on the feasibility of capturing on/off kinetics mitochondrial function data longitudinally using NIRS in patients newly diagnosed with breast or gynecological cancer, provide preliminary data for future extramural funding, as well as inform the scientific community of results through dissemination via conferences and peer-reviewed journal publications.

This clinical trial has been registered with clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT006672497). Data collection started on July 26, 2021 and is ongoing through March 27, 2026. The authors confirm that all ongoing and related trials for this observation trial (no drug or intervention) are registered.

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