How exercise relates to health and cancer outcomes in adult survivors

Association Between Exercise, Patient-Reported Outcomes, and Clinical Events in Adult Cancer Survivors

Observational Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · NCT07030686

This project will see if exercising after treatment is linked to cancer outcomes and other health events in adults who have finished primary cancer therapy.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment1000 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations4 sites (Duarte, California and 3 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07030686 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a retrospective observational analysis using data from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Cancer Survivorship Program to emulate a target randomized trial. Researchers will compare adults who reported non‑exercising status 9–15 months before a baseline survey to those who began exercising, using patient‑reported exercise surveys and clinical records to examine cancer‑specific endpoints and other clinical events. Key inclusion criteria include age ≥18, no evidence of recurrent or metastatic disease in the 15 months before baseline, and completion of definitive primary adjuvant therapy at least 3 months before the historical survey. Data analysis will be performed at MSK with collaborating analytic sites at City of Hope, UCLA, and Weill Cornell.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult cancer survivors followed at Memorial Sloan Kettering who completed the required historical and baseline exercise surveys, had no recurrence in the prior 15 months, and finished definitive primary therapy at least three months before the historical survey.

Not a fit: Patients with active recurrent or metastatic disease, those who were already regularly exercising before the historical survey, or those without the required survey or follow‑up data are unlikely to benefit from the study's findings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If the findings show a beneficial link, they could support recommending exercise during survivorship to improve health outcomes and potentially reduce cancer‑related events.

How similar studies have performed: Previous observational studies and some randomized trials have shown that exercise improves quality of life and physical function in survivors, while evidence for reduced recurrence is promising but not yet definitive.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

Target trial (ideal RCT)

* Adult (≥18 years of age) patients with history of primary invasive cancer under surveillance at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).
* Completion of an exercise survey (baseline) as part of MSK Cancer Survivorship Program and completion of a historical survey in the MSK Cancer Survivorship Program 9-15 months (time th) prior reporting non-exercising status \[i.e., reporting \<10 metabolic equivalent-hours per week (MET-h/week)\]. Patients completing an additional exercise survey between th and baseline are excluded.
* No evidence of recurrent or metastatic disease in the 15 months prior to the baseline exercise assessment
* Completion of all definitive primary adjuvant therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy) at least 3 months prior to completion of the historical exercise survey in a MSK Cancer Survivorship Program. Adjuvant hormonal therapy is permitted at any time.
* Undergoing surveillance in the Cancer Survivorship Program at MSK

Emulation using observational data

* Adult (≥18 years of age) cancer survivors under surveillance at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) between 2011 and 2023.
* Assessment of self-reported exercise status via completion of an exercise survey as part of MSK Cancer Survivorship Program standard intake (baseline assessment).
* Non-exercising (i.e., reporting \<5 MET-h/week) via completion of an exercise survey as part of MSK Cancer Survivorship Program standard intake 9-15 months prior to the baseline exercise assessment (historical exercise survey).
* Documented history of the following absolute contraindications to moderate-intensity exercise at any time prior to the baseline exercise assessment, assessed using the Elixhauser ICD codes: Congestive heart failure, valvular disease, chronic pulmonary disease, or renal failure.
* No evidence of recurrent or metastatic disease via radiological or pathological in EMR in the 15 months prior to the baseline exercise assessment.
* Completion of all definitive primary adjuvant therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy) at least 3 months prior to completion of historical exercise survey (i.e., at least 3 months prior to t-1) as part of MSK Cancer Survivorship Program standard intake. Adjuvant endocrine therapy is permitted.

Where this trial is running

Duarte, California and 3 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions SurvivorshipRecurrentRecurrenceCancerRemissionExercisecancer survivoradult cancer survivor
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.