Evaluating the impact of physical activity on survival outcomes in cancer patients.

Abstract

e22610 Background: Emerging evidence suggests that physical activity may play a pivotal role in improving survival outcomes among cancer patients. However, the extent of its impact across different cancer types remains unclear. Here we aimed to quantify the association between physical activity and survival outcomes in patients with various solid tumors through a comprehensive meta-analysis. Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar databases, covering studies up to December, 2024. Prospective studies examining physical activity and survival in solid tumors were included. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were extracted and pooled using a random-effects model to account for study heterogeneity. Meta-analyses were conducted using the MetaAnalysisOnline.com platform, with rigorous screening and inclusion criteria applied to ensure high-quality data. Results: Our meta-analysis included 85 studies investigating the relationship between physical activity and survival outcomes across various cancer types. For breast cancer (33 studies), physical activity was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality (HR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.59–0.70) and breast cancer-specific mortality (HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.63–0.75), with substantial heterogeneity observed for all-cause mortality (I² = 61%). In lung cancer (13 studies), physical activity reduced all-cause mortality (HR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.72–0.84) and lung cancer-specific mortality (HR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.69–0.84), although significant heterogeneity was detected (I² = 93% and 83%, respectively). Prostate cancer (13 studies) showed a reduced risk of all-cause and cancer-specific mortality (HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.60–0.77), with no significant heterogeneity. Similarly, in colorectal cancer (25 studies), physical activity was associated with reduced all-cause mortality (HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.66–0.75) and cancer-specific mortality (HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.63–0.80). For skin cancer, no significant association was observed between physical activity and survival outcomes (HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.71–1.05), with consistent effect sizes across studies. Conclusions: Our analysis demonstrates that physical activity significantly improves survival outcomes in cancer patients, particularly in breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers, emphasizing its potential as an adjunctive strategy in cancer care.