Exercise Proves Life‑Extending for Cancer Patients; COVID Vaccine Shown to Boost Survival in Those on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

In a recent meta‑analysis published in The BMJ, researchers examined data from 21 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 8,500 cancer survivors who engaged in structured exercise programs after treatment. The analysis found that regular exercise was associated with a 23% improvement in overall survival, a 26% reduction in cancer‑specific mortality, and modest gains in disease‑free survival and all‑cause mortality. The evidence was rated as moderate, with greater benefits observed in patients with higher adherence, aerobic training, and early‑stage disease.

Separately, a multicenter study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine evaluated the optimal colonoscopy surveillance interval after adenoma removal. Over 10 years of follow‑up, extending the interval from 3 to 5 years did not increase the cumulative incidence of colorectal cancer (both 0.8%) and showed no difference in cancer stage at diagnosis. The findings suggest that a 5‑year surveillance schedule is non‑inferior to the current 3‑year recommendation.

Another study, published in Nature Medicine, examined the relationship between COVID‑19 vaccination and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in a French cohort of more than 95,000 adults. Patients who received mRNA vaccination within 100 days before or after initiating ICI treatment experienced a modest but significant reduction in early all‑cause mortality (≈10–16% lower risk) that waned after 12 months. The authors concluded that vaccination does not compromise ICI efficacy or increase immune‑related adverse events.

A pragmatic trial also reported in the New England Journal of Medicine investigated sodium bicarbonate infusion for critically ill adults with shock and metabolic acidosis. In a randomized, placebo‑controlled study of 500 patients across 55 ICUs, adding sodium bicarbonate for up to 5 hours provided no benefit in terms of 30‑day mortality, renal‑replacement therapy, or persistent renal dysfunction, reinforcing prior evidence that this therapy is largely ineffective.

Taken together, these studies underscore the value of lifestyle interventions such as exercise, the importance of evidence‑based surveillance intervals, and the safety of vaccination even when combined with cancer immunotherapy, while highlighting the need to avoid unnecessary treatments in critical care.

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