Physical Activity Is ‘Adjuvant Therapy’ in Colon Cancer
Campbell PT, Patel AV, Newton CC, Jacobs EJ, Gapstur SM
J Clin Oncol. 2013;31:876-885

Study Summary

The association of physical activity with outcomes after a diagnosis of colorectal cancer is unknown, although it is clear that activity is associated with a reduced risk for incidence of colorectal cancer. In this report, the authors utilized a cohort of patients that had been established to study incidence of cancer in the early 1990s. They focused on 2293 patients who developed colorectal cancer during the follow-up period, which lasted a maximum of 16 years (until 2007). Patients with metastatic disease were excluded from the study. The authors examined associations between patient-reported activity, both pre- and post-diagnosis, with survival. Recreational physical activity was categorized as metabolic equivalent (MET) hours, corresponding to number of hours of walking per week:

• 3.5 MET hours = 1 hour of walking per week

• 3.5-8.74 MET hours = 1-2.5 hours of walking per week

• ≥ 8.75 MET hours = ≥ 2.5 hours of walking per week

• The investigators also evaluated sitting time and categorized this as < 3 hours per day, 3-6 hours per day, and ≥ 6 hours per day

Increased activity (≥ 8.75 MET hours vs < 3.5 MET hours per week) was associated with increased survival (prediagnosis physical activity: relative risk [RR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-0.89; postdiagnosis physical activity: RR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.47-0.71). Similarly, spending 6 or more hours per day of leisure time sitting compared with < 3 hours was associated with higher all-cause mortality (prediagnosis sitting time: RR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.10-1.68; postdiagnosis sitting time: RR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.99-1.64). Thus, activity levels both pre- and post-diagnosis are associated with outcomes in colorectal cancer.

Full Article:  http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/780232