Project description DEENESFRITPL Exercise as a preventive means for metastatic tumour recurrence in colorectal cancer patients Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in Europe, and the cause of death for nearly 230,000 Europeans every year. Around 30 % of CRC patients develop liver metastases, which constitute the main cause of death among this patient population. As exercise has been proven to exert anti-tumour effects and inhibit tumour growth in animal models, physical activity could be an excellent complementary treatment alongside the pharmacological anti-cancer treatment. The EU-funded POET-mCRC project aims to investigate whether long-term exercise can prevent or delay metastasis recurrence in CRC patients. In addition, it aims to identify the optimal dose of exercise required to obtain these beneficial effects. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Every year nearly 228,000 individuals die from colorectal cancer (CRC) in Europe, the second most common cancer in Europe. Around 30% of the CRC patients develop liver metastases and these are the main cause of death. Removal of liver metastatic tumors is the primary treatment method for CRC, however, 50-75% of the patients experience a relapse of the metastases within two years, rendering adjunct treatment strategies necessary for these patients.Preclinical work has demonstrated that exercise exerts anti-tumor effects as it is indeed able to inhibit tumor growth. Thus, exercise constitutes an excellent candidate as a complementary to the pharmacological treatment approach for CRC metastatic patients (mCRC). My primary aim is to investigate the effects of chronic exercise on tumor recurrence after liver metastasis removal. Secondary aims are to identify the “optimal dose” of exercise to obtain the largest beneficial effect and explore the changes on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a marker of disease progression. I hypothesize that exercise training will delay or ameliorate disease recurrence in mCRC patients. Patients will be randomized to 3 groups: control, group 1(300 min/week), group 2 (150 min/week) of combined aerobic and strength exercise training for 6 months. Study endpoints will be tumor recurrence, inflammation and immune markers, physiological adaptations and ctDNA changes.The outcomes will provide essential knowledge about how to optimize the guidelines for exercise prescription as part of the treatment plan for mCRC patients.The fellowship will be vital for my reintegration into academia and for me to evolve as a lead researcher. It also constitutes an ideal means of knowledge transfer between myself and the host organization as I will gain knowledge in the oncology area and advance my skills in molecular biology techniques while I convey my experience in dose-response methodology and the conduct of large-scale human exercise trials. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologycolorectal cancernatural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2020 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2020 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-CAR - CAR – Career Restart panel Coordinator REGION HOVEDSTADEN Net EU contribution € 328 968,00 Address KONGENS VAENGE 2 3400 Hillerod Denmark See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Nordsjælland Activity type Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 328 968,00
