Effect of exercise on functional capacity in patients with advanced cancer: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Alice Avancini; Isabella Sperduti; Anita Borsati; Thomas Ferri; Lorenzo Belluomini; Jessica Insolda; Ilaria Trestini; Daniela Tregnago; Federico Schena; Emilio Bria; Michele Milella; Sara Pilotto

doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103726

Effect of exercise on functional capacity in patients with advanced cancer: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2022 Jul:175:103726. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103726. Epub 2022 Jun 2.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine and Verona University Hospital Trust, Verona, Italy; Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Biostatistical Unit - Clinical Trials Center IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena, U.O. di Biostatistica e Bioinformatica, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine and Verona University Hospital Trust, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine and Verona University Hospital Trust, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine and Verona University Hospital Trust, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine and Verona University Hospital Trust, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁹ Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
¹⁰ Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
¹¹ Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine and Verona University Hospital Trust, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
¹² Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine and Verona University Hospital Trust, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 35659975
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103726

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the impact of exercise on functional capacity, measured through the "Six minutes walking test" (6MWT) in patients with advanced cancer stage.

Methods: Systematic research on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and SportDiscus was conducted. Randomized controlled trials were eligible if they examined the effect of exercise on 6MWT.

Results: Overall, a total of ten trials were included in the primary analysis. Compared to the controls, the exercise intervention was associated with an increase in functional capacity (+20.86 m; CI: -5.90 to 47.72, p = 0.12) although not reaching the statistical significance. Sensitivity analysis revealed an improvement for studies proposing a supervised exercise intervention towards the statistical significance. Few adverse events were associated with exercise training, and the median withdrawals rate was 17%.

Conclusions: Exercise may have a beneficial role on functional capacity in patients with advanced cancer, especially if supervised.

Keywords: Advanced cancer; Exercise; Functional capacity; Physical intervention; Six minutes, walking test.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

Exercise
Exercise Therapy*
Humans
Neoplasms* / therapy
Quality of Life
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic