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Review
. 2016 Jul;7(4):293-304.
doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2016.04.007. Epub 2016 May 31.

Designing exercise clinical trials for older adults with cancer: Recommendations from 2015 Cancer and Aging Research Group NCI U13 Meeting

Deepak Kilari  1 , Enrique Soto-Perez-de-Celis  2 , Supriya Gupta Mohile  3 , Shabbir M H Alibhai  4 , Carolyn J Presley  5 , Tanya M Wildes  6 , Heidi D Klepin  7 , Wendy Demark-Wahnefried  8 , Amina Jatoi  9 , Robert Harrison  10 , Elizabeth Won  11 , Karen M Mustian  12
Affiliations
Review

Designing exercise clinical trials for older adults with cancer: Recommendations from 2015 Cancer and Aging Research Group NCI U13 Meeting

Deepak Kilari et al. J Geriatr Oncol. 2016 Jul.

Abstract

Cancer and its treatment can lead to a myriad of adverse events and negatively impact quality of life of older cancer patients and survivors. Unmet physical activity needs vary across the cancer continuum and remain an important yet understudied area of research in this population. Exercise interventions have been shown to be effective in treating both the physical and psychological declines associated with cancer and its treatment, with a potential to improve cancer-related outcomes. Despite the current evidence, exercise is clearly underutilized due to several barriers and knowledge gaps in existing trials that include appropriate population identification, design, and outcome measures selection. The benefits of regular exercise in both the primary and secondary prevention of chronic conditions are well established in the non-cancer population. In older cancer patients and survivors, further research is needed before exercise gains widespread acceptance. The Cancer and Aging Research Group convened experts in exercise, aging and cancer to evaluate current scientific evidence and knowledge gaps in geriatric exercise oncology. This report summarizes these findings and provides future research directions.

Keywords: Cancer; Exercise; Geriatric recommendations; Older patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures and Conflict of Interest Statements: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Exercise oncology clinical vignette
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Benefits of exercise intervention upon functional decline cascade Abbreviation: Tx—treatment
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Framework for discussion
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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