Can exercise improve the quality of life of men with advanced prostate cancer and also extend their survival? To help answer this question a major new global trial known as GAP4 has been launched in Dublin, Ireland.

The trial has a goal of recruiting 866 men from seven countries, including Ireland. The trial will be comprehensive with the researchers anticipating that it will take five-and-a-half years to complete.

There is a constant accumulation of evidence that indicates that exercise has dramatic effects in relation to cancer prevention, as treatment and in preventing cancer from recurring. The goal of GAP4 is to prove, with the evidence based standards provided by a clinical trial, that exercise delays prostate cancer progression and improves survival in men with advanced prostate cancer.

Current treatments can extend the life of men with advanced prostate cancer, but they all come with many side effects including fatigue, brain damage and metabolic and cardiac problems. We do have observational studies that exercise can improve survivor outcomes, including recurrence rates and significance of side effects experienced by the survivor. This trial seeks to confirm this data.

Confirming, with this level of evidence, if exercise can extend the lives of men, mitigate their side effects and reduce recurrence rates with advanced prostate cancer is vital. This information will help improve many individual’s life as well as reduce healthcare costs.

Currently, the steering committee for the trial is in process of finishing the protocol. We look forward to seeing this trial begin.