Grant Number:	1R01CA315819-01 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator:	Scott, Jessica
Organization:	Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
Project Title:	Digital Physical Activity in Individuals Living with Metastatic Cancer
Fiscal Year:	2026

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT There are over 700,000 individuals living with metastatic cancer in the United States, a number projected to exceed 1 million by 2030. A fundamental challenge in metastatic cancer care is accurate prognostication and on-treatment monitoring of disease progression. Performance status, a reflection of overall functional health, is key factor used in clinical decision-making and is commonly assessed using standardized scales. These scales, however, are subjective, assessed at periodic intervals, and have poor prognostic value for the majority of newly diagnosed metastatic patients who have minimal functional impairments. In contrast, physical activity is an objective measure of functional health. Studies in early-stage cancer consistently show that higher physical activity is associated with improved survival. Evidence remains limited in individuals with metastatic cancer due to studies with small sample sizes, inconsistent results, and reliance on self-reported physical activity at a single timepoint. Therefore, changes in physical activity levels in metastatic cancer are unclear, and whether physical activity is associated with health outcomes is not known. This study brings together a multidisciplinary team with expertise in physical activity, clinical care, digital health, epidemiology, data science, and biostatistics. In this longitudinal cohort study, we will leverage recent advances in health and digital technology to examine smartphone-based digital physical activity (DPA) in patients with metastatic breast, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancer (n=400/site) initiating guideline-recommended chemotherapy-based first line therapy. Our central hypothesis is that higher DPA will be associated with lower risk of adverse cancer-related outcomes. We will address two aims: AIM 1: Determine the association between pre-metastatic DPA patterns and metastatic characteristics. AIM 2: Evaluate the association between post-metastatic DPA and progression free survival. IMPACT: This project addresses a critical gap in the care of individuals with metastatic cancer by integrating low-cost, high-resolution real-world DPA with clinical data. This work will establish a scalable framework for passive, continuous physical activity monitoring in metastatic cancer.





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