After 15 years of research, Queen’s trial proves regular exercise after colon cancer treatment dramatically improves long-term survival, redefining cancer care.
The study was led by researchers from the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Sinclair Cancer Research Institute, Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), and the KHSC Research Institute. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June 2025, the study followed 889 patients across 55 clinical centers for over 15 years.
Colon cancer survivors who had undergone surgical resection and completed chemotherapy were divided into two groups: a control group that received health education materials, and an intervention group that received the same materials, along with access to a structured exercise program supported by a certified physical activity consultant. The goal of the program was to increase patients’ recreational exercise by at least 10 metabolic activity equivalent task (MET) hours per week during the first six months, and to maintain or further increase that level over the following two and a half years. One MET represents the energy used at rest—brisk walking, for example, is about 4 METs per hour.
Findings showed that patients who participated in a structured exercise program were 28 per cent less likely to experience cancer recurrence, develop a new cancer, or pass away compared to those who didn’t receive the intervention.
“This is something we[‘ve] worked on for 20 years. I’ll never forget the day we got the results—February 7, 2025. There were so many emotions: excitement, relief, and exhilaration that we had identified a previously undescribed scientific phenomenon that could help people around the world,” Christopher Booth, oncology professor and medical oncologist at KHSC, said in an interview with The Journal.
Booth’s interest in the project was inspired by [both] his background as a cross-country student athlete at Queen’s, and by emerging data from the 2000s which suggested that physically active cancer survivors had better outcomes. But at the time, Booth noted, the data came only from large-scale surveys, not controlled trials.
“You need a randomized trial where patients are otherwise very similar, and the only difference is whether or not they[‘ve] received an exercise intervention,” Booth explained.
And that’s exactly what the trial delivered—Booth hopes this evidence will urge physicians to integrate exercise into cancer care alongside established treatments, like chemotherapy, and encourage policymakers to support the program.
Booth is also hopeful the findings will make exercise more accessible for cancer patients who may struggle to initiate and sustain an exercise plan. According to an analysis of the 2005 Canadian Health Community Survey, less than 1 in 4 Canadian cancer patients were physically active. “Even though many people know it’s a good idea to exercise, it can be very hard to start that program and maintain this lifestyle change,” Booth added.
The trial also opens the door for future studies in other cancers. According to Booth, similar work is already underway in ovarian cancer, and Booth’s team will continue to analyze blood samples collected throughout the trial to better understand the mechanism by which exercise has anti-cancer effects.
For students, Booth offered a simple takeaway: exercise supports better health.
“Exercise is known to help prevent chronic diseases and prolong a lifelong healthy lifestyle. You don’t need a clinical trial to know that being physically active has many benefits—from physical function to emotional well-being and mental health,” Booth said.
Tags
Clinical Trial, Colon Cancer, exercise, First Year in Focus
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