Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Following Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery (RESTORE II): A Definitive…

Randomized trialAnnals of surgery· Sep 2026

Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Following Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery (RESTORE II): A Definitive Randomized Controlled Trial.

Linda M O'Neill, Emily Smyth, Neil Kearney … Emer M Guinan

Cardiopulmonary RehabilitationRandomized trialTreatmentQ1IF 6.2

Rehabilitation program raised cardiorespiratory fitness more than standard care after UGI cancer surgery

Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Following Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery (RESTORE II): A Definitive Randomized Controlled Trial.

Linda M O'Neill … Emer M Guinan

Annals of surgery · Sep 2026

Background

The value of multidisciplinary cancer rehabilitation in UGI cancer survivorship is unclear, with limited high-quality data.

Purpose

RESTORE II compared in an RCT the impact of a 12-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation program versus standard care (standard care) on cardiorespiratory fitness and physical function in patients postupper gastrointestinal (UGI) oncologic surgery.

Methods

Disease-free patients, ≥3 months post-UGI cancer resection were randomized to standard care or RESTORE (physiotherapy-led aerobic and resistance exercise, dietary counselling, and psychosocial support).

n = 44

Results

rehab boosted fitness gains more than standard care

mL/min/kg 1.50 (95% CI 0.52 to 2.48)

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

Median age was 67.5 (range: 43-86) years, n=60 (68.2%) male, and median time postsurgery was 33 (range: 3.5-145) months.

VO₂peak remained stable in the standard care group.

Secondary endpoints remained stable across treatment arms with no significant differences observed.

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Conclusion

RESTORE II provides Level I evidence that cardiorespiratory fitness can be targeted and improved in survivors of UGI cancer surgery.

Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Following Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery (RESTORE II): A Definitive Randomized Controlled Trial.

Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Following Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery (RESTORE II): A Definitive Randomized Controlled Trial.

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