Physical Activity Is Associated with Improved Overall Survival among Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Simple Summary Physical activity is linked to longer survival among non-metastasized colorectal cancer patients. It is unclear if physical activity is also beneficial for survival among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. We researched this question in our study of 293 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. We found that participants who reported higher levels of physical activity at diagnosis lived longer compared to patients who reported low activity levels. Furthermore, adherence to the physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors was related to prolonged survival. Our findings suggest that patients with metastatic colorectal cancer also benefit from being physically active. Future studies are needed to investigate whether improving exercise levels after diagnosis of metastasis is also beneficial and what kind of exercise interventions are most optimal for possibly improving survival time of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Regular physical activity (PA) is associated with improved overall survival (OS) in stage I-III colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. This association is less defined in patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC). We therefore conducted a study in mCRC patients participating in the Prospective Dutch Colorectal Cancer cohort. PA was assessed with the validated SQUASH questionnaire, filled-in within a maximum of 60 days after diagnosis of mCRC. PA was quantified by calculating Metabolic Equivalent Task (MET) hours per week. American College of Sports and Medicine (ACSM) PA guideline adherence, tertiles of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and sport and leisure time MVPA (MVPA-SL) were assessed as well. Vital status was obtained from the municipal population registry. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to study the association between PA determinants and all-cause mortality adjusted for prognostic patient and treatment-related factors. In total, 293 mCRC patients (mean age 62.9 +/- 10.6 years, 67% male) were included in the analysis. Compared to low levels, moderate and high levels of MET-hours were significantly associated with longer OS (fully adjusted hazard ratios: 0.491, (95% CI 0.299-0.807, p value = 0.005) and 0.485 (95% CI 0.303-0.778, p value = 0.003), respectively), as were high levels of MVPA (0.476 (95% CI 0.278-0.816, p value = 0.007)) and MVPA-SL (0.389 (95% CI 0.224-0.677, p value < 0.001)), and adherence to ACSM PA guidelines compared to non-adherence (0.629 (95% CI 0.412-0.961, p value = 0.032)). The present study provides evidence that higher PA levels at diagnosis of mCRC are associated with longer OS.

Automated summary

Physical activity is associated with longer survival among non-metastasized colorectal cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate whether physical activity is also beneficial for survival among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The study found that higher levels of physical activity at the time of mCRC diagnosis were associated with longer overall survival. Adherence to physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors was also related to prolonged survival. Future research is needed to examine whether improving exercise levels after the diagnosis of metastasis is beneficial and determine the most effective exercise interventions for improving survival time in mCRC patients.