As a result of advances in cancer treatment, the number of breast cancer (BC) survivors is increasing in Canada. Unfortunately, the drugs used to treat BC can have a negative impact on the long term health and welfare of the BC survivors (BCS). For example, commonly used cancer therapies, such as anthracyclines (AC) are known to cause declines in heart health. While the impact can vary, some individuals treated with these medications will experience substantial heart damage that may lead to heart failure and death. As a result, risk of cardiovascular morbidity/mortality has become a major concern for BCS that received AC treatment. As a result, there is an immediate need to find therapies that can be used to prevent damage to the heart without limiting the anticancer potential of AC.

A growing body of evidence suggests that aerobic exercise training may help protect the heart against the damaging effects of AC therapy. These studies, which were conducted using animal models, have shown that performing aerobic exercise before or while undergoing AC therapy helps to maintain heart function and prevent structural changes in the heart. However, to the author's knowledge similar studies have not been conducted in BCS undergoing treatment, thus it remains unclear whether exercise has the same cardioprotective effect in BCS. As a first step in answering this question, our research group conducted a pilot study that showed a 12-week aerobic exercise program is safe and feasible for BCS undergoing chemotherapy. The next step in our research is to determine whether aerobic exercise decreases or prevents cardiotoxicity in BCS receiving AC treatment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine whether a 12-week home based aerobic exercise program mitigates AC-mediated cardiotoxicity in BCS on active treatment. The specific objectives of the study are to determine whether the aerobic exercise program: 1) prevents structural and functional changes in the heart; 2) maintains peak aerobic capacity throughout the treatment process; and 3) decreases biological markers associated with heart damage.

This is a randomized control trial with repeated measures. BCSs will be randomly assigned to either the wait-list control (CTL) group (standard of care (SOC) or the aerobic exercise (AEX; SOC + 12-week home-based aerobic exercise program). One hundred BCS (18-65 years of age) on AC treatment will be recruited from two sites, Halifax, NS (n=50) and Winnipeg, MB (n=50). Patients in the AEX group will perform two exercise sessions per week that will range from low intensity (\~45 min) to vigorous intensity (\~20 min). BCS will monitor their exercise intensity with Polar A370 HR monitors, which they will be given for the duration of the study.The primary outcome measure for the study is cardiac function as determined by echocardiography and a cardiac stress test. Secondary outcome measures include serum biomarkers associated with cardiotoxicity (e.g. c-reactive protein, hsTNT, NT-proBNP). Patient-reported outcomes including levels of fatigue and quality of life will also be assessed. The study outcome measures will be assessed prior to the participants starting AC therapy (week-0), post-exercise intervention (week-12) and 6 months after the completion of the AEX. Of note, upon completion of the 6 month follow-up testing participants in the CTL group, if interested, will be given the home-based AEX as well the necessary support to complete the program.

This research will provide the first direct evidence that aerobic exercise protects the heart from AC-mediated damage in BCS undergoing cancer treatment. Both the medical and research communities will benefit from this research as it could lead to the improvement of long term health of cancer survivorship as well as improve the understanding of how the heart health can be maintained during cancer therapy. Given the significant impact of AC therapy on improving BC prognosis, and the potential protective effects of exercise training, this study will be important in improving BC care via the improvement of the quality of life and increased survivorship.