Effects of lifestyle modification on cancer recurrence, overall survival and quality of life in gynaecological cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The benefits of lifestyle interventions for women who have survived gynaecological cancer (GC) remain unclear. This systematic review aimed to determine the effect of lifestyle interventions on cancer recurrence, overall survival and quality of life (QoL) in women with GC. We searched Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and EBM Reviews from June to July 2016 to identify relevant literature. We included randomized controlled trials in which a lifestyle intervention (diet, weight loss, physical activity and/or behavioural interventions) were compared with a control condition (usual care, placebo or other lifestyle interventions) in women who had survived endometrial or ovarian cancer. Primary outcomes included cancer recurrence and overall survival and the secondary outcome was QoL. Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. A random effects meta-analysis model was used to calculate mean differences (md) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The literature search yielded 928 citations and three trials met the inclusion criteria. No randomized controlled trial assessed the effect of lifestyle interventions on cancer recurrence or survival. Meta-analysis of two randomized controlled trials on the effect of lifestyle interventions on total QoL at 3 or 6 months post-intervention showed no significant difference between intervention and control groups [(md; 1.60; 95% CI, -1.65 to 4.85) and (md; 2.07; 95% CI, -1.80 to 5.94), respectively]. That is, lifestyle intervention had no effect on overall QoL or individual QoL domains (physical, emotional, social wellbeing and fatigue) in GC survivors.