SynthesisActa oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden)2026
The impact of exercise interventions before, during, and following neoadjuvant therapies for locally advanced rectal cancer: a critical review.
Synthesis in Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
background and purposeNeoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) and radiotherapy (NART) are standard treatments for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, their associated toxicities negatively affect patients' quality of life (QoL), prompting growing interest in exercise as a supportive intervention. This critical narrative review synthesised evidence on exercise interventions delivered before, during, or after NACRT/NART, with a focus on feasibility, safety, functional, psychosocial, and emerging oncological outcomes. MATERIALS AND
methodsA systematic literature search was conducted across MEDLINE, CINAHL Ultimate, and SPORTDiscus (2010-2025). Prospective studies evaluating exercise-based interventions in patients with LARC receiving NACRT or NART were included. Studies were selected using the Participants, Exposure, and Outcome framework, and methodological quality was appraised using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists. Data were synthesised narratively in accordance with PRISMA reporting standards.
resultsSixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions varied in type, intensity, supervision, and timing. Of these, nine studies (n = 226) were analysed quantitatively. Feasibility outcomes varied widely across studies: Eligibility (27.1-100%), recruitment (27.5-90.0%), attendance (74.0-96.0%), attrition (0-100%). No serious adverse events were reported. Consistent improvements were observed cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, fatigue, QoL. Limited evidence suggested a potential association between post-NACRT exercise and tumour regression; however, some of these findings were not powered for oncological endpoints.
interpretationExercise is a feasible and safe adjunct to treatment in LARC. Further research should explore oncological outcomes and improve representation across demographics.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.