Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Cancer Causes & Control
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control 12/2011

01-12-2011 | Original Paper

Timing and intensity of recreational physical activity and the risk of subsite-specific colorectal cancer

Authors: Terry Boyle, Jane Heyworth, Fiona Bull, Sarah McKerracher, Cameron Platell, Lin Fritschi

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 12/2011

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose

Although there is convincing evidence that physical activity reduces colon cancer risk, there are important questions that remain unanswered about the association. These include the timing and intensity of activity required to optimally reduce risk, and whether physical activity has a different effect on cancers at different sites within the colon. We conducted a case–control study to investigate these issues.

Methods

A case–control study of colorectal cancer was conducted in Western Australia in 2005–2007. Data were collected on various risk factors. The estimated effects of recreational physical activity on the risk of cancers of the distal colon, proximal colon, and rectum were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. This analysis included 870 cases and 996 controls.

Results

The risk of distal colon cancer was reduced by performing a high level of vigorous-intensity activity between the ages 19 and 34 years (women), 35 and 50 years (men), after the age of 51 years (men and women), and consistently over the adult lifetime (men and women). The risk of rectal cancer was reduced by performing a high level of vigorous activity between the ages 35 and 50 years (men), and consistently over the adult lifetime (men). Proximal colon cancer risk was not associated with physical activity in any of the age periods or over the adult lifetime. Moderate intensity activity did not reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

Conclusion

Physical activity may have a greater effect on the risk of distal colon cancer than proximal colon cancer. Vigorous physical activity is required to reduce colorectal cancer risk.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
World Cancer Research Fund American Institute for Cancer Research (2007) Food, nutrition, physical activity, and the prevention of cancer: a global perspective. AICR, Washington
2.
3.
Friedenreich CM, Neilson HK, Lynch BM (2010) State of the epidemiological evidence on physical activity and cancer prevention. Eur J Cancer 46(14):2593–2604PubMedCrossRef
4.
Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee (2008) Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee report, 2008. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington
5.
Samad AKA, Taylor RS, Marshall T, Chapman MAS (2005) A meta-analysis of the association of physical activity with reduced risk of colorectal cancer. Colorectal Dis 7(3):204–213PubMedCrossRef
6.
Harriss DJ, Atkinson G, Batterham A et al (2009) Lifestyle factors and colorectal cancer risk (2): a systematic review and meta-analysis of associations with leisure-time physical activity. Colorectal Dis 11(7):689–701PubMedCrossRef
7.
Wolin KY, Yan Y, Colditz GA, Lee IM (2009) Physical activity and colon cancer prevention: a meta-analysis. Br J Cancer 100(4):611–616PubMedCrossRef
8.
9.
Gerhardsson de Verdier M, Steineck G, Hagman U et al (1990) Physical activity and colon cancer: a case-referent study in Stockholm. Int J Cancer 46(6):985–989PubMedCrossRef
10.
Giovannucci E, Ascherio A, Rimm EB et al (1995) Physical-activity, obesity, and risk for colon-cancer and adenoma in men. Ann Intern Med 122(5):327–334PubMed
11.
Isomura K, Kono S, Moore MA et al (2006) Physical activity and colorectal cancer: the Fukuoka Colorectal Cancer Study. Cancer Sci 97(10):1099–1104PubMedCrossRef
12.
Nilsen TIL, Romundstad PR, Petersen H et al (2008) Recreational physical activity and cancer risk in subsites of the colon (the Nord-Trondelag Health Study). Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 17(1):183–188PubMedCrossRef
13.
Wolin KY, Lee IM, Colditz GA et al (2007) Leisure-time physical activity patterns and risk of colon cancer in women. Int J Cancer 121(12):2776–2781PubMedCrossRef
14.
Wu AH, Paganinihill A, Ross RK, Henderson BE (1987) Alcohol, physical-activity and other risk-factors for colorectal-cancer: a prospective-study. Br J Cancer 55(6):687–694PubMedCrossRef
15.
Boutron-Ruault MC, Senesse P, Meance S et al (2001) Energy intake, body mass index, physical activity, and the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Nutr Cancer 39(1):50–57PubMedCrossRef
16.
Chao A, Connell CJ, Jacobs EJ et al (2004) Amount, type, and timing of recreational physical activity in relation to colon and rectal cancer in older adults: the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 13(12):2187–2195PubMed
17.
Friedenreich C, Norat T, Steindorf K et al (2006) Physical activity and risk of colon and rectal cancers: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 15(12):2398–2407PubMedCrossRef
18.
Lee KJ, Inoue M, Otani T et al (2007) Physical activity and risk of colorectal cancer in Japanese men and women: the Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study. Cancer Causes Control 18(2):199–209PubMedCrossRef
19.
Zhang YW, Cantor KP, Dosemeci M et al (2006) Occupational and leisure-time physical activity and risk of colon cancer by subsite. J Occup Environ Med 48(3):236–243PubMedCrossRef
20.
Calton BA, Lacey JV, Schatzkin A et al (2006) Physical activity and the risk of colon cancer among women: a prospective cohort study (United States). Int J Cancer 119(2):385–391PubMedCrossRef
21.
Colbert LH, Hartman TJ, Malila N et al (2001) Physical activity in relation to cancer of the colon and rectum in a cohort of male smokers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 10(3):265–268PubMed
22.
Hou L, Ji BT, Blair A et al (2004) Commuting physical activity and risk of colon cancer in Shanghai, China. Am J Epidemiol 160(9):860–867PubMedCrossRef
23.
Howard RA, Freedman DM, Park Y et al (2008) Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the risk of colon and rectal cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Cancer Causes Control 19(9):939–953PubMed
24.
Larsson SC, Rutegard J, Bergkvist L, Wolk A (2006) Physical activity, obesity, and risk of colon and rectal cancer in a cohort of Swedish men. Eur J Cancer 42(15):2590–2597PubMedCrossRef
25.
Le Marchand L, Wilkens LR, Kolonel LN et al (1997) Associations of sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, alcohol use, and diabetes with the risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer Res 57(21):4787–4794PubMed
26.
Mai PL, Sullivan-Halley J, Ursin G et al (2007) Physical activity and colon cancer risk among women in the California Teachers Study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 16(3):517–525PubMedCrossRef
27.
Marcus PM, Newcomb PA, Storer BE (1994) Early adulthood physical-activity and colon-cancer risk among Wisconsin women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 3(8):641–644PubMed
28.
Slattery ML, Potter J, Caan B et al (1997) Energy balance and colon cancer–beyond physical activity. Cancer Res 57(1):75–80PubMed
29.
Thune I, Lund E (1996) Physical activity and risk of colorectal cancer in men and women. Br J Cancer 73(9):1134–1140PubMedCrossRef
30.
White E, Jacobs EJ, Daling JR (1996) Physical activity in relation to colon cancer in middle-aged men and women. Am J Epidemiol 144(1):42–50PubMed
31.
32.
Friedenreich CM, Courneya KS, Bryant HE (1998) The lifetime total physical activity questionnaire: development and reliability. Med Sci Sports Exerc 30(2):266–274PubMedCrossRef
33.
Kriska AM, Sandler RB, Cauley JA et al (1988) The assessment of historical physical activity and its relation to adult bone parameters. Am J Epidemiol 127(5):1053–1063PubMed
34.
Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Whitt MC et al (2000) Compendium of physical activities: an update of activity codes and met intensities. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32(9):S498–S516PubMed
35.
Potter JD, Hunter D (2008) Colorectal cancer. In: Adami H-O, Hunter D, Trichopoulos D (eds) Textbook of cancer epidemiology, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford
36.
Boyle T, Heyworth J, Fritschi L, Bull F (2011) Long term sedentary work and the risk of subsite-specific colorectal cancer. Am J Epidemiol 176(10):1183–1191CrossRef
37.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008) Census of population and housing: socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA), Australia. Catalogue number 2033.0.55.001. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, Australia
38.
Laake I, Thune I, Selmer R et al (2010) A prospective study of body mass index, weight change, and risk of cancer in the proximal and distal colon. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 19(6):1511–1522PubMedCrossRef
39.
Ogino S, Chan AT, Fuchs CS, Giovannucci E (2010) Molecular pathological epidemiology of colorectal neoplasia: an emerging transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary field. Gut 60(3):397–411PubMedCrossRef
40.
Feskanich D, Ma J, Fuchs CS et al (2004) Plasma vitamin D metabolites and risk of colorectal cancer in women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 13(9):1502–1508PubMed
41.
Slattery ML, Edwards SL, Ma KN et al (1997) Physical activity and colon cancer: a public health perspective. Ann Epidemiol 7(2):137–145PubMedCrossRef
42.
Levi F, Pasche C, Lucchini F et al (1999) Occupational and leisure-time physical activity and the risk of colorectal cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev 8(6):487–493PubMedCrossRef
43.
Markowitz S, Morabia A, Garibaldi K, Wynder E (1992) Effect of occupational and recreational activity on the risk of colorectal-cancer among males: a case-control study. Int J Epidemiol 21(6):1057–1062PubMedCrossRef
44.
Steindorf K, Jedrychowski W, Schmidt M et al (2005) Case-control study of lifetime occupational and recreational physical activity and risks of colon and rectal cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev 14(4):363–371PubMedCrossRef
45.
Tavani A, Braga C, La Vecchia C et al (1999) Physical activity and risk of cancers of the colon and rectum: an Italian case control study. Br J Cancer 79(11–12):1912–1916PubMedCrossRef
46.
Lee IM, Paffenbarger RS Jr, Hsieh C (1991) Physical activity and risk of developing colorectal cancer among college alumni. J Natl Cancer Inst 83(18):1324–1329PubMedCrossRef
47.
Wolin KY, Patel AV, Campbell PT et al (2010) Change in physical activity and colon cancer incidence and mortality. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 19(12):3000–3004PubMedCrossRef
48.
Slattery ML, Caan BJ, Benson J et al (2003) Energy balance and rectal cancer: an evaluation of energy intake, energy expenditure, and body mass index. Nutr Cancer 46(2):166–171PubMedCrossRef
49.
Slattery ML, Jacobs DR (1995) Assessment of ability to recall physical activity of several years ago. Ann Epidemiol 5(4):292–296PubMedCrossRef
50.
Jalleh G, Donovan RJ, Lin C et al (2010) Beliefs about bowel cancer among the target group for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program in Australia. Aust N Z J Public Health 34(2):187–192CrossRef
51.
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (2011) Canadian physical activity guidelines: 2011 scientific statements. Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Ottawa, Canada
52.
World Health Organization (2010) Global recommendations on physical activity for health. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
53.
Egger G, Donovan R, Swinburn B et al (1999) Physical activity guidelines for Australians: scientific background report a report by The University of Western Australia and the Centre for Health Promotion and Research Sydney for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. The University of Western Australia and The Centre for Health Promotion and Research Sydney, Australia
Metadata
Title
Timing and intensity of recreational physical activity and the risk of subsite-specific colorectal cancer
Authors
Terry Boyle
Jane Heyworth
Fiona Bull
Sarah McKerracher
Cameron Platell
Lin Fritschi
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 12/2011
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9841-5

Other articles of this Issue 12/2011

Cancer Causes & Control 12/2011 Go to the issue

Original paper

Fruit and vegetable consumption is inversely associated with having pancreatic cancer

Original Paper

Sunlight exposure, vitamin D, and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the Nurses’ Health Study

Original paper

Aspirin and NSAID use and lung cancer risk: a pooled analysis in the International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO)

Original paper

Occupational exposure to metal compounds and lung cancer. Results from a multi-center case–control study in Central/Eastern Europe and UK

Original paper

Haplotypes of DNA repair and cell cycle control genes, X-ray exposure, and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Original paper

Patterns of meat intake and risk of prostate cancer among African-Americans in a large prospective study
Webinar | 19-02-2024 | 17:30 (CET)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer

Watch now

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are novel agents that have shown promise across multiple tumor types. Explore the current landscape of ADCs in breast and lung cancer with our experts, and gain insights into the mechanism of action, key clinical trials data, existing challenges, and future directions.

Dr. Véronique Diéras
Prof. Fabrice Barlesi
Developed by: Springer Medicine
Image Credits