Structured exercise improved survival after colon cancer in a phase 3 trial

What the study found

The CHALLENGE trial randomized 889 colon cancer survivors to a 3-year coached exercise program or health-education materials. Exercise cut the risk of recurrence, new cancer or death by 28% (5-year disease-free survival 80.3% vs 73.9%) and was associated with better 8-year overall survival (90.3% vs 83.2%).

Why it matters for healthspan

It is landmark randomized evidence that exercise prescribed like a therapy changes hard outcomes, not just fitness scores. The population was cancer survivors, so it does not directly prove the same effect for healthy aging, and musculoskeletal side effects were more common with exercise.

Evidence level

Human RCT · Exercise & Muscle

Source

Courneya KS, Vardy JL, O’Callaghan CJ, et al. N Engl J Med. 2025;393(1):13-25. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2502760

Educational summary curated by Farhan Tahir, MD, FACR. Not individual medical advice.