Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Cancer-Related Biomarkers, Functional Capacity, Cognitive Status and Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women with a rate of 30%. Again, 15% of cancer-related deaths in women are due to breast cancer. Breast cancer, whose incidence among women is increasing in our country, is seen in one out of every four women diagnosed with cancer. Approximately one in every eight women is at lifelong risk of developing breast cancer (Turkish Society of Medical Oncology Breast Cancer, 2019).

As a side effect of the disease and multimodal anticancer interventions, breast cancer patients may experience cancer-related physical and psychological symptoms such as cancer-related fatigue, decreased muscle mass, loss of strength, decreased functional capacity, and pain. These symptoms create a vicious cycle leading to deterioration in quality of life. Oncological rehabilitation aims to reduce such symptoms through multimodal, transprofessionally delivered, goal-oriented and person-centered coordinated interventions. Oncological rehabilitation is available before, during, between and after cancer treatments.

Inflammation is the hallmark of cancer and is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with various types of solid tumors. Inflammation activates certain signaling pathways to promote cell survival, proliferation, migration and invasion. Preclinical studies show that reducing inflammation and targeting inflammatory signaling pathways slows cell growth and delays tumor progression. Furthermore, obesity causes chronic inflammation that can promote malignant cell growth. The anti-inflammatory benefit of aerobic exercise may arise in part due to a reduction in adiposity.

Decreased immune function often accompanies anti-cancer therapies and reduces overall quality of life. Compromised chronic inflammation and cellular immunity are major concerns, as both promote a pro-tumor environment that may contribute to disease progression. Therefore, there is a need to identify options to manage inflammation while maximizing immune function in cancer survivorship. Exercise is a potentially attractive option. However, the role of exercise training on immune function and inflammatory markers is not well addressed in current exercise oncology guidelines.

Immune cell rates and function provide direct evidence of immunity in cancer survivors. Cytokines are often categorized as pro- or anti-inflammatory; some function as both (such as interleukin-6). Higher circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are linked to cancer-related outcomes. For example, breast cancer patients with advanced tumors have higher circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) compared with healthy individuals. Previous systematic reviews had concluded that exercise training had no effect on circulating cytokines in cancer survivors overall. However, a recent meta-analysis using a more homogeneous population reported positive effects of TNF, interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and interleukin-2 in breast cancer. Despite the role of the inflammatory state in various cancers and the growing body of literature examining cytokines in exercise oncology, it remains unclear whether the benefits of exercise extend beyond breast cancer.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged between 18 and 65
• Literate
• Diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer
• Completed primary breast cancer treatment at least 6 months ago (excluding hormone therapy/aromatase inhibitors)
• Provided cooperation
• Female
• Patients who are willing and willing to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Those who are using psychotic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, analgesic and sleeping pills
• Those with metastasis
• Those with a history of lymphedema
• Those with neurological disease
• Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Uncontrolled hypertensive patients
• Those who are incapable of verbal communication or physical movement