Exercise could improve colorectal-cancer survival

Abstract

Exercise can signifi cantly improve survival and reduce cancer recurrence in patients with non-metastatic colorectal can cer, accordingly to two studies (J Clin Oncol 2006; 24: 3517–18 and 3527–34). “Higher levels of physical activity contributed to a 50% reduced risk of recurrence and mortality when com bined with standard therapies”, says lead author of both studies Jeff rey Meyerhardt (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA). “These studies provide consistent observational data that exercise may provide additive benefi t to patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer who have had surgery and chemotherapy”, he adds. In the CALGB 89803 study, all 832 patients diagnosed with stage III colon cancer completed questionnaires on lifestyle and exercise during and 6 months after adjuvant therapy. Compared with those who did less than three metabolic equivalent tasks (MET)-h per week of exercise, the adjusted hazard ratio for disease-free survival was 0·51 (95% CI 0·26–0·97) for those who did 18–26·9 MET-h of activity per week, and 0·55 (0·33– 0·91) for those who did 27 MET-h per week or more. In the Nurses’ Health Study, 573 women with stage I–III colorectal cancer who did at least 18 MET-h of activity had a hazard ratio of 0·39 (0·18–0·82) for cancer-specifi c mortality and 0·43 (0·25–0·74). for overall mortality, compared with those who did less than 3 MET-h per week. “These strong epidemiological studies give consistent data about the bene fi ts of exercise for cancer survivors. We can now say to patients: exercise is ass o ciated with reduced recurrence and mort ality in colorectal cancer”, says Wendy DemarkWahnefried (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA), who wrote an accompanying editorial to the studies.