The effect of an aerobic exercise bout 24 h prior to each doxorubicin treatment for breast cancer on markers of cardiotoxicity and treatment symptoms

a RCT

authored by

Amy A. Kirkham, Neil D. Eves, Rob E. Shave, Kelcey A. Bland, Joshua Bovard, Karen A. Gelmon, Sean A. Virani, Don C. McKenzie, Eric J. Stöhr, Darren E.R. Waburton, Kristin L. Campbell

Abstract

Purpose In rodents, a single exercise bout performed 24 h prior to a single doxorubicin treatment provides cardio-protection. This study investigated whether performing this intervention prior to every doxorubicin treatment for breast cancer reduced subclinical cardiotoxicity and treatment symptoms. Methods Twenty-four women with early stage breast cancer were randomly assigned to perform a 30-min, vig-orous-intensity treadmill bout 24 h prior to each of four doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy treatments or to usual care. Established echocardiographic and circulating biomarkers of subclinical cardiotoxicity, as well as blood pressure and body weight were measured before the first and 7–14 days after the last treatment. The Rotterdam symptom checklist was used to assess patient-reported symptoms. Results The exercise and usual care groups did not differ in the doxorubicin-related change in longitudinal strain, twist, or cardiac troponin. However, the four total exercise bouts prevented changes in hemodynamics (increased cardiac output, resting heart rate, decreased systemic vascular resistance, p < 0.01) and reduced body weight gain, prevalence of depressed mood, sore muscles, and low back pain after the last treatment (p < 0.05) relative to the usual care group. No adverse events occurred. Conclusions An exercise bout performed 24 h prior to every doxorubicin treatment did not have an effect on markers of subclinical cardiotoxicity, but had a positive systemic effect on hemodynamics, musculoskeletal symptoms, mood, and body weight in women with breast cancer. A single exercise bout prior to chemotherapy treatments may be a simple clinical modality to reduce symptoms and weight gain among women with breast cancer.

External Organisation(s)

University of Alberta
University of British Columbia
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Columbia University

Type

Article

Journal

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Volume

167

Pages

719-729

No. of pages

11

ISSN

0167-6806

Publication date

02.2018

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oncology, Cancer Research

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Electronic version(s)

http://hdl.handle.net/10369/9405 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-017-4554-4 (Access: Closed)