CHALLENGE trial: 90 of 100 colorectal cancer patients with exercise coaching alive at 8 years vs 83
In a clinical trial of 889 patients with stage II–III colorectal cancer, the group with an activity consultant had better outcomes than the group given advice only.
The CHALLENGE trial, published in 2025 and reported by pravda.ru, compared two approaches to physical activity after treatment for colorectal cancer. It enrolled 889 people with stage II or III disease, without distant metastases, in six countries including Canada and Australia. pravda.ru
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Trial design
Participants were divided into two groups. One received only educational materials on healthy eating and the benefits of exercise. The other received support from a physical activity consultant for three years.
The target was a load equivalent to brisk walking for 45–60 minutes, 3–4 times a week. The programs were not templated: specialists adapted the intensity and type of exercise to each patient's condition. According to the report, this allowed people to keep their activity at a stable level over a long period.
Results at eight years
Eight years after the start of the program, the researchers recorded a clear difference in outcomes. About 90 of 100 people were alive in the group with a coach, compared with about 83 of 100 in the group that received only advice, a difference of 7 percentage points. pravda.ru
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The group with active support had 93 cases of recurrence, a new tumor or death. In the control group, which relied on general recommendations, there were 131 such cases.
These figures do not mean that every patient gained extra years of life. The statistics show a general trend: the group supported in exercising had a higher chance of being alive at the end of the follow-up period.
Limits of the findings
The researchers caution against copying this experience blindly. CHALLENGE concerned a specific group: people with a particular stage of colorectal cancer and acceptable general physical condition. The conclusions cannot be automatically extended to all types of cancer. pravda.ru
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The researchers also mention other studies in which physical activity is associated with a lower risk of 13 types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer. Those data come from observations, whereas CHALLENGE was a clinical trial. Observational data show a link between exercise and health but do not prove that exercise alone explains the absence of disease.
The report notes that the suitability of any physical activity for a particular patient should be agreed with the treating physician, since individual health characteristics determine its safety and benefit.
