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Approved Research

Investigating the pattern of physical activity as the prescriptions for improving cancer prognosis

Principal Investigator: Dr Jaesung Choi
Approved Research ID: 75922
Approval date: November 16th 2021

Lay summary

Cancer is the leading cause of death, with more than 19 million cancer incidence and 9.9 million cancer deaths reported in 2020. Invasive surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy are mainly used as conventional cancer treatments, but there have been reports of limitations such as limited treatment options or side effects depending on individual characteristics. Physical activity has been proposed as an adjuvant treatment to increase the effectiveness of existing cancer treatments. However, previous studies reporting the role of physical activity on cancer prognosis did not provide evidence for specific physical activity patterns that should be performed to improve cancer prognosis. In addition, they could not suggest that the pattern of physical activity be performed according to the timing of prescription and comorbid diseases. Thus, the purpose of this study was to suggest the pattern of physical activity patterns by combining the duration, type, intensity, and timing of activity that can more effectively improve the prognosis of cancer according to various characteristics of cancer patients such as cancer type, treatment timing, and comorbidity. We will use data from the UK biobank to identify associations between post- and pre-diagnosis physical activity on cancer prognosis in subjects diagnosed with cancer in the previous 5 years and after from the accelerometer measurement. The compositional analysis will be performed to facilitate interpretation and promote public health implications. Subsequently, a sub-group analysis will be performed on carcinomas with sufficient statistical power, and a stratified analysis will be performed according to the presence or absence of comorbidities defined by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) codes. Based on the evidence obtained from this study, it will be possible to suggest patterns of physical activity that can improve cancer prognosis and increase the therapeutic effect of cancer patients.