Regular physical activity may significantly narrow the survival gap between patients with stage III colon cancer and the general population, new research suggests.
In a pooled analysis of two major National Cancer Institute–sponsored clinical trials, CALGB 89803 and 80702, researchers evaluated data from 2,876 patients who self-reported their physical activity following surgery. Activity levels were measured in metabolic equivalent task (MET) hours per week, a standard unit used to quantify exercise intensity.
Patients who engaged in at least 18 MET-hours of weekly physical activity had notably better survival outcomes compared to less active patients. In CALGB 89803, highly active patients had only a 3.5% lower three-year survival rate than the matched general population (MGP), compared to a 17.1% lower rate among inactive patients. Similar trends were observed in the second trial.
When data from both trials were combined, patients who were alive and recurrence-free at three years and exercised regularly actually matched, or slightly exceeded, the survival rates of the general population. In contrast, those with low activity still lagged behind.
The study underscores the potential for physical activity to not only improve quality of life but also significantly influence survival in colon cancer survivors. Researchers conclude that exercise may help these patients achieve survival rates comparable to people without cancer, reinforcing the role of lifestyle interventions in cancer care.
Reference
Brown JC et al. The association of physical activity with survival in colon cancer versus a matched general population: Data from Cancer and Leukemia Group B 89803 and 80702 (Alliance). Cancer. 2025;131(5):e35727.
