Recieved grant in 2025 

DCCC has funded 200,000 DKK to this project. 

In survivors of gastroesophageal cancer, dumping syndrome is a frequent late adverse effect after esophagectomy and gastrectomy. Dumping is caused by rapid passage of nutrients into the small intestine, triggering the release of hormones such as GLP-1 and insulin. This can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort and postprandial hypoglycaemia.  

The GLP-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide, has been proposed as a potential treatment for dumping, as it may help improve postprandial glycaemic control. 

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of semaglutide in patients experiencing dumping after surgery for gastroesophageal cancer. 

The funding from DCCC will be used to prepare the study. This includes holding interdisciplinary meetings within the writing group and involving a patient panel to help ensure that the study design is relevant and patient-centred. In addition, questionnaires will be translated and validated, and methods for assessing hypoglycaemia and associated symptoms will be tested.  

If semaglutide proves effective, it could lead to a new evidence-based treatment and make a significant difference for cancer survivors currently living with untreated dumping syndrome. 

Multidisciplinary organisation 

This project is supported by Danish EsophagoGastric Cancer Group (DEGC).  

Project stakeholders 

Investigators 

  • Sarunas Dikinis, Head Consultant, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital  
  • Alan Patrick Ainsworth, Consultant, PhD, Department of Surgery, Odens University Hospital 
  • Daniel Kjær, Consultant, PhD, Department of Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital 
  • Michael P. Achiam, Professor, Consultant, PhD, Research Lead, Department of Transplantation and Digestive Diseases, Rigshospitalet 
  • Kristian Egebjerg, MD, PhD Student, Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet  
  • Morten Mau-Sørensen, Consultant, PhD, Deprtment of Oncology, Rigshospitalet. Primary contact, mail: mms@rh.regionh.dk  
  • Helga Ellingsgaard,  Group leader, PhD, Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet 
  • Grit E. Legaard, Group leader, PhD, Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet 
  • Bente Klarlund Pedersen, Professor, DMSc, Research Lead, Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet 
  • Casper Simonsen, Group leader, PhD, Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet 

 Patient representative  

  • Thomas Rasmussen, Graphic designer, Speaker, founder of cancervenner.dk 
  • Peter Marquard Pedersen, Police officer, member of CURE steering commitee  
  • Peder Bank, Senior Advisor, DLEGroup DK, member of DEGC database steering committee 

 Scientific Advisory Panel  

  • Magnus Nilsson, Professor, PhD, Head of Division of Surgery and Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden 
  • Torsten Olbers, Professor, PhD, Division of Surgery, Linköping University Hospital, Sweden 
  • Carel le Roux, Professor, PhD, Managing Director, Conway Institute, University of Dublin, Ireland