The effect of physical function on treatment efficacy in patients with cancer: a scoping review

Objective: This scoping review will identify, summarize, and map the relevant literature that provides information on the associations of physical function and physical activity with treatment efficacy in patients with cancer. Introduction: Physical function and physical activity are important for activities of daily living and quality of life in patients with cancer. In recent years, there have been anecdotal reports that physical function and physical activity may contribute to the effectiveness of anticancer treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, there is no consensus on the associations of physical function and physical activity with treatment efficacy, and the existing evidence remains unclear in terms of population characteristics, including cancer type, treatment setting, assessment methods, and measurement timing. Therefore, there is a need for a systematic overview of the associations of physical function and physical activity with treatment efficacy in patients with cancer and of the populations and assessment methods examined in existing studies, using a comprehensive scoping review with a clear search strategy. Inclusion criteria: This scoping review will include studies that examine the associations of physical function or physical activity with treatment efficacy in patients with cancer. Methods: The search for this scoping review will include PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, the Cochrane Library, and PEDro. The searches were updated in April 2026, and PEDro was added as an additional database. Studies will be selected using a three-step process that includes i) search result management and duplicate removal, ii) title and abstract screening, and iii) full-text screening. The extracted data will be presented in tabular form with a narrative summary in a manner consistent with the objectives and scope of this review.