Precision Oncology Framework for Investigation of Exercise As Treatment for Cancer

Promising discovery (epidemiologic) data have led to the provocative hypothesis that exercise treatment may improve cancer outcomes, fueling calls for the need for large phase III trials to definitively test this question. Emerging epidemiologic data suggest that the potential efficacy of exercise differs on the basis of tumor subtype. The heterogeneity in response creates the strong hypothesis that a precision oncology approach is required to optimize the benefit and safety of exercise as a candidate antitumor strategy. This commentary has presented one potential translational framework that may facilitate these efforts. It is hoped that the concepts described here will provide the platform for constructive dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize the therapeutic promise of exercise treatment.