In July 2026, the inaugural scientific conference of the newly established International Society of Exercise Oncology (ISEO) will bring together researchers, clinicians, and practitioners from around the world. The event is organized by the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) on behalf of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, in collaboration with HUR, and will take place at the Heidelberg Congress Center.
The congress provides a global platform to showcase groundbreaking research and share best practices in exercise therapy for cancer patients and survivors, supporting the advancement of cancer rehabilitation. Its goal is to strengthen networking among national and international stakeholders and accelerate the integration of exercise interventions into routine care.
A Comprehensive Scientific Program
The conference program spans a wide range of topics, including:
- Clinical research & epidemiology: Investigating the effects of exercise on disease progression.
- Therapy phases: From prehabilitation and exercise during cancer treatment to survivorship and palliative care.
- Pediatric cancer, behavioral sciences, and implementation research.
Keynote Speakers and Highlights
- Prof. Dr. Kerry Courneya – Hidden secrets of the CHALLENGE trial: Improving cancer prognosis through exercise
- Prof. Dr. Laurien Buffart – Impact of exercise on biopsychosocial health and symptom management in cancer patients
- Prof. Dr. Robert Newton – Exercise is medicine in prostate cancer
- Dr. Marlies Meisel – Exercise, microbiome, and the immune system: New perspectives in exercise oncology
- Prof. Dr. Karen Steindorf – Observational research in exercise oncology: Current knowledge and future perspectives
- Prof. Dr. Jennifer Ligibel – Exercise as routine care in cancer rehab: Turning vision into practice
This first ISEO congress marks a pivotal step in positioning exercise as a core part of modern cancer rehabilitation, highlighting the latest evidence, innovative approaches, and future directions in the field.
The Role of Strength Training in Cancer Rehabilitation
Strength training is a cornerstone of cancer rehabilitation, helping to prevent or reverse muscle loss (sarcopenia), improve physical function, and reduce treatment-related fatigue—one of the most common and debilitating side effects of cancer therapies. Maintaining or rebuilding muscle strength supports patients’ ability to perform daily activities, enhances metabolic and cardiovascular health, and may contribute to better treatment tolerance and recovery outcomes.
In addition, resistance exercise has been associated with improvements in quality of life, mental well-being, and long-term survivorship, making it a key component of comprehensive exercise oncology programs. These benefits are supported by international guidelines (American College of Sports Medicine, 2019; Clinical Oncology Society of Australia, 2018; British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2018) as well as multiple clinical studies demonstrating that resistance training enhances strength, functional capacity, and quality of life in cancer patients and survivors (Kerry Courneya & Friedenreich, 2011; Robert Newton et al., 2020–2023; Christina M. Dieli-Conwright et al., 2018).
For more information about the conference:
- Conference website: indico.dkfz.de/event/1375
- ISEO website: exercise-oncology.org
References
Christina M. Dieli-Conwright et al. (2018). Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise in Cancer Patients: Effects on Fatigue and Body Composition.
American College of Sports Medicine (2019). Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (2018). Position Statement on Exercise in Cancer Care.
British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018). Exercise for Cancer Survivors: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Kerry Courneya & Friedenreich, C. M. (2011). Physical Activity and Cancer Outcomes: A Precision Medicine Approach. Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Robert Newton et al. (2020–2023). Resistance Training in Cancer Rehabilitation: Evidence and Guidelines.