Feasibility and Efficacy of Interval Walking in Patients With Colorectal Cancer

Background: The level physical exercise is strongly associated with colorectal cancer risk in the general population, and recent data shows that physical activity after a colorectal cancer diagnosis is inversely associated with mortality risk, indication the physical exercise can protect against disease progression. However, few studies have successfully performed exercise interventions in patients with colorectal cancer, and the potential mechanisms responsible for the tumor suppressing effects of exercise remain poorly explored. Purpose: To investigate interval-walking, delivered by the InterWalk smart phone application as exercise-modality in patients with colorectal cancer. Specifically it is the aim to explore if InterWalk is safe and feasible as well as effective to improve cardio-metabolic health profile. Subjects: Colorectal cancer patients, stage I-III, who are at least one month post-surgery and have concluded any adjuvant chemotherapy treatment, are eligible for inclusion. Exclusion criteria are: age \ 1; unable to read and understand Danish Methods: 40 colorectal cancer patients are included and randomized to I) InterWalk or II) waiting list control for 24 weeks. Patients are evaluated at baseline, week 12 and week 24 by assessment measures to determine cardio-metabolic health profile and other relevant study outcomes, including: cardiopulmonary exercise test (VO2peak); anthropometrics; blood pressure; resting heart rate; body composition; health related quality of life questionnaires; plasma concentration levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, glucose and inflammatory cytokines; insulin sensitivity; and cognitive function.