Table 2 Characteristics of non-randomized trials

Chiarotto et al. [32]

N = 35

Female: NR

Mean age: 66.2

Pre-post, single arm

Single center: Canada

Incurable metastatic malignancy colorectal cancer; Undergoing chemotherapy

Supervised strength and aerobic exercise program + home practice everyday

Duration: Once per week, 75 mins

NR

Overall survival (OS)

Till death

NR

Participation in the exercise pilot was not associated with any difference in survival (HR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.32–2.97).

Delrieu et al. [33]

N = 833

Female: 100%

Mean age: 57.8

Prospective cohort

Multiple centers: France

Metastatic breast cancer; 52.6% undergoing chemotherapy

The average amount of time (in hours) spent weekly doing light and heavy household, moderate and vigorous recreational activity.

MET per minute and per week

Overall survival

Till death

Age at metastatic diagnosis, BMI ECOG, Performance Status, smokers, education, number of metastatic sites, adjuvant chemotherapy, metastatic at diagnosis and tumor type (Luminal-like, HER2+, Triple Negative).

After adjustment for multiple covariates and imputations on missing data, moderate and vigorous physical activity levels were not statistically significantly associated with longer survival in the whole population as compared to light physical activity (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.70–1.29).

Guercio et al. [34]

N = 1218;

Female: 41.1%

Median age: 59.4

Prospective cohort

Multiple centers: USA and Canada

Advanced/ metastatic colorectal cancer; Within 1 month after chemotherapy initiation;

“During the past 2 months, what was your average time per week spent at each of the following recreational activities?” regarding nine leisure-time activities, as well as normal walking pace and number of stair flights per day.

Total MET hours per week

Overall survival, Progression-free survival

Median: 6.18 years

Age, sex, ECOG performance status, planned chemotherapy, prior adjuvant chemotherapy, prior radiation therapy, assigned treatment arm, BMI, primary tumour location, KRAS tumor status

Compared with individuals with less than 3 MET hours per week, individuals with 18 or more MET hours per week experienced a fully adjusted hazard ratio for OS of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.71 to 1.02; PTrend = .06).

Jones et al. [35]

N = 118

Female: 40%

Mean age: 61

Prospective study

Single center: USA

Lung cancer (IIIB, IV or recurrent metastatic); 67% undergoing treatment

Average weekly exercise and duration since their primary adjuvant treatment consultation (MET)

Self-reported exercise behavior (Leisure score index by GLTEQ)

Overall survival

Median: 26.6 months

Age, gender, ECOG Performance status

Compared with patients reporting < 9 MET-hrs wk. − 1, the adjusted HR for mortality was 0.67 (95% CI, 0.31–1.48) for patients reporting ≥9 MET-hrs wk. − 1.

Lowe et al. [36]

N = 31

Female: 58%

Mean age: 63.5

Cross-sectional

Single center: Canada

Progressive, incurable, cancer with brain metastatic; undergoing palliative whole brain radiotherapy

1. Supine or sitting position

2. Standing position

3. Stepping

4. Estimated energy expenditure

5. Number of steps over a 24-h period

ActivPAL accelerometer (for up to 7 days)

Overall survival

806 days

NR

No significant differences in median survival within the activity categories (standing position and supine or sitting position).

Ohri et al. [37]

N = 50

Female: 40%

Mean age: 66

Prospective study

Single center: USA

Locally advanced lung cancer (>  80% stage III & IV); Scheduled for concurrent chemoradiation therapy

Daily step count

(Inactive: 0–9000; Active: > 9000)

Wearable device for a median of 17 days (IQR: 12–20)

Overall survival; Progression-free survival

Median: 17.2 months

ECOG performance status

There was a trend suggesting an association between baseline activity level and OS (adjusted HR = 2.86) for inactive subjects; P = 0.62).

Palesh et al. [38]

N = 103

Female: 100%

Mean age: 53.8

Prospective study

Multiple centers: USA

Breast cancer (Stage IV); 94% undergoing treatment

Amount of time spend engaged in various types of PA (METs/day)

Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall questionnaire

Overall survival

Mean: 60.43 months

Age, marital status, ER status, treatment received, metastatic disease spread [dominant site], depression, cortisol levels

The effect of physical activity as measured by METs on overall survival remained significant even after controlling for baseline prognostic factors (age, marital status, ER status, treatments received, metastatic disease spread [dominant site], depression, and cortisol levels) (HR: 0.91, CI: 0.84–0.99, P < .05).

Ruiz et al. [39] (abstract)

N = 50

Female: 21%

Mean age: 68.5

Pilot prospective cohort

Multiple centers: USA

Newly diagnosed advanced lung cancer (stage IV); Scheduled for treatment

Low self-reported PA

(< 383Kcals/week for men; <  270 Kcals/week for women)

Short Version of the Minnesota Leisure Time Activity Questionnaire

Overall survival

NR

Baseline hemoglobin, KPS, BMI

In multivariate analyses, low physical activity (HR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2, 4.3) was independently associated with shorted survival.