Wednesday, June 03, 2026 Kingston/Chicago – May 31, 2026: New findings presented at ASCO 2026 demonstrate that a structured exercise program for colon cancer survivors improves survival outcomes and reduces healthcare system costs.Researchers with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) examined the economic impact of integrating structured physical activity into follow-up care for patients with curable colon cancer. They found that structured exercise not only yields positive long-term outcomes for patients but does so at a lower cost than most treatment regimens. The economic analysis of the landmark CCTG CO.21 CHALLENGE trial was presented at Gastrointestinal Cancer Oral Abstract Session and published simultaneously in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. “We now have both clinical and economic evidence to inform the adoption and integration of a structured exercise program into routine clinical care. Structured exercise should not be viewed as an optional lifestyle choice, but as a standard anti-cancer treatment for patients with colon cancer following adjuvant chemotherapy,” says Dr. Kelvin Chan, medical oncologist at Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Centre and CCTG Committee on Economic Analysis Co-Chair.The cost of the exercise program involves the time for the personal trainers to meet with patients every 2 weeks in Year 1 and monthly in Years 2 and 3. The total cost for this program is approximately $3000 per person. This is very affordable when compared with most new cancer medicines, which often cost more than $200,000 per year. Because the exercise program reduces the number of patients who develop recurrent cancer, this program saves more money than it costs as a result of the decrease in future chemotherapy and other health care expenses. The CO.21 cost utility analysis sought to determine the incremental cost, incremental quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and cost-utility ratio (ICER) of the structured exercise program (SEP) plus health educational materials (HEM) versus HEM alone. While substantial savings of healthcare costs were demonstrated as measured in Canadian dollars within the Canadian healthcare system, even larger savings are predicted for healthcare systems with higher treatment costs. “The economic analysis shows that the exercise program is one of the very rare health care interventions that both improves survival AND reduces health system spending,” says Dr. Christopher Booth, CO.21 study co-lead, Professor of Oncology and Director, Cancer Care and Epidemiology at Queen’s University. “Now we need health systems and payers to ensure patients have access to these services in routine clinical care.” Presented last year, the primary results of the CHALLENGE trial demonstrated that a 3-year structured exercise program after adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer decreases cancer recurrence and improves overall survival. Understanding system costs in cancer research is important for determining whether a treatment delivers meaningful value beyond its clinical benefits. “With these new economic results, the CO.21 CHALLENGE trial shows that exercise is the right intervention, for the right patient, at the right time, and at the right price,” confirms Dr Kerry Courneya, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Cancer, University of Alberta and the CO.21 study co-chair. These results add to a growing body of research supporting patient-centered interventions that improve outcomes while helping to reduce the economic burden of cancer care. Cost-utility analyses are valuable tools for identifying treatments that deliver meaningful benefits at acceptable cost, thereby supporting more equitable and sustainable access to effective care. This analysis reinforces, for both researchers and health systems globally, that delivering a structured exercise program not only improves patient outcomes but also reduces overall healthcare costs.“These findings reinforce my own experiences participating in the CO21 trial—that exercise is not only beneficial for patients’ health and quality of life but is cost effective and a simple intervention that patients can follow,” says Terri Swain-Collins, a participant in the CO.21 trial. Working with a trainer over the 3-year study period allowed her to establish and maintain a fitness routine personalized to her needs. 30 -About Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG)The Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) is a cancer clinical trials research cooperative that runs phase I–III trials to test anti-cancer and supportive therapies across Canada, and internationally. Headquartered at Queen’s University, CCTG has supported more than 700 trials enrolling 100,000 patients from 40 countries on 6 continents through a global network of 20,000 investigators and clinical trial staff. CCTG is the Canadian Coordinating Clinical Trial Network for the US NCTN and is a national program of the Canadian Cancer Society. CCTG’s aim is to improve survival and quality of life for all people with cancer. Learn more at cctg.ca.Media ContactLisa CallahanCommunications LeaderCanadian Cancer Trials Grouplcallahan@ctg.queensu.caC. 343-363-7158
