A groundbreaking analysis of two National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical trials has revealed that physical activity levels significantly impact survival outcomes in patients with stage III colon cancer, potentially eliminating the survival gap between cancer patients and the general population.
The research, led by Dr. Justin C. Brown from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, examined data from 2,876 patients enrolled in the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) trials 89803 and 80702. The study specifically focused on how different levels of physical activity affected survival rates compared to the matched general population (MGP).
Impact of Physical Activity Levels
The findings showed a clear correlation between exercise intensity and survival outcomes. In the CALGB 89803 trial, patients with low physical activity (<3.0 MET-hours per week) showed survival rates 17.1% lower than the matched general population. In contrast, those engaging in higher levels of activity (≥18.0 MET-hours per week) narrowed this gap significantly, with rates only 3.5% lower than the general population.
Similar patterns emerged in the CALGB 80702 trial, where low-activity patients showed survival rates 10.8% lower than the MGP, while high-activity patients reduced this difference to just 4.4%.
Long-term Survival Benefits
Perhaps most striking were the results from a pooled analysis of 1,908 patients who remained cancer-free for three years post-treatment. In this group, those maintaining high physical activity levels actually achieved survival rates 2.9% higher than the matched general population, while low-activity patients still showed a 3.1% lower survival rate.
Clinical Implications
These findings underscore the vital role of physical activity in cancer survivorship. The research suggests that exercise could be a powerful tool in reducing the mortality gap typically seen between colon cancer survivors and the general population. However, the researchers emphasize that these benefits are contingent upon patients remaining tumor recurrence-free.
The study provides compelling evidence for healthcare providers to incorporate physical activity recommendations into standard care protocols for colon cancer survivors. While the optimal exercise prescription requires further research, the data clearly supports the benefits of maintaining higher activity levels during and after cancer treatment.
This research represents a significant step forward in understanding how lifestyle factors can modify cancer outcomes, potentially opening new avenues for improving survival rates in colon cancer patients through structured physical activity interventions.
