Abstract P5-15-08: Exercise intervention to run away from breast cancer treatment side effects: An integrative approach
Authors: Casla Soraya , López-Tarruella Sara , Jerez Yolanda , Márquez-Rodas Iván , Cubedo Ricardo , Calvo Isabel , Martinez Ana , Cano Sara , Barakat Rubén , Martín Miguel 
Published: May 2015

Background. Some studies have shown that exercise increases breast cancer (BC) patients’ quality of life (QoL) during and after treatments. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an specific exercise intervention in QoL and in the exercise levels of these patients.

Methods. A randomized controlled trial evaluated an intervention (IG) vs a control group (CG) in early stage BC patients who recently finished chemo & radio therapies. Intervention consists on controlled group classes combining aerobic and resistance activities. CG maintained their previous lifestyle. QoL, leisure-time exercise levels (LTEL), chest (CMS) and legs maximal strength (LMS), physical capacity (PC) and some psychological variables, were assessed at baseline and after 3 months in both groups. Women who participated in the IG were followed up (FU) after 6 months.

Statistical analysis (SA) were performed using unpaired t-test on continuous variables comparing CG vs IG, considering possible confounders. Pearson correlation analyses were employed to examine possible correlations. 6 months FU data were analyzed comparing baseline and after intervention results using non-parametric test (n=13). SA was performed with SPSS v18 software. 95% CI was calculated and statistical significance level of p &lt; 0.05 was used.

Results. 59 women (median 48.97±8.35 years old) completed this study. No differences between groups were observed at baseline. Average attendance rate to the program was 89%. There was a significant rise in LTEL (t123=16.33; p=0.0001) and in QoL (t123=2.88; p=0.005) comparing IG vs CG. Results also showed a correlation between QoL and LTEL in patients of IG only (r=0.22; p=0.013). Significant differences between groups were observed in both physical and psychological variablesafter training program.

Table 1. Results summary comparing intervention and control group.VARIABLESIntervention Group (n= 27) Mean±SDControl Group (n=32) Mean±SDFollow-Up (n=13) Mean±SDQoL*+112.88±17.74±103.11±19.26110.96±14.40LTEL*+45.11±14.6114.87±4.7834.56±19.51Body Fat Mass34.63±6.736.47±7.4735.74±4.56Muscle mass41.3±3.1638.78±8.5141.48±2.01Strength Index*+2.6±0.832.12±0.692.32±0.58CMS*+45.89±11.0731.47±9.8753.76±12.42LMS*+93.07±27.369.00±24.94114.65±24.29PC*+32.58±4.9627.08±3.7332.11±7.10FACT-F *+135.94±18.20124.00±24.20138.24±17.49SF-36 Physical Dimension*+48.49±4.8345.61±5.8249.75±2.75SF-36 Psychological Dimension*+43.00±8.1137.03±12.5844.33±7.33Depression*+6.83±7.8312.55±10.775.88±5.19*Significant differences were found between control and intervention group. + Significant differences were maintained between baseline and follow-up assessments.

No differences taking into account confounders were observed.Variable changes were maintained in FU participants assessed after 6 months. Correlation between QoL and LTEL (r=0.52; p=0.008) and significant weight loss (χ22=6.08; p=0.048) were observed.

Conclusion. These results suggest that a specifically designed BC exercise program increases LTEL, which correlates to a better QoL. This may reduce psychological and physical side effects of systemic treatment in patients with early BC that have recently finished treatments, even producing lifestyle changes in BC patients that could be long lasting.

Citation Format: Soraya Casla, Sara López-Tarruella, Yolanda Jerez, Iván Márquez-Rodas, Ricardo Cubedo, Isabel Calvo, Ana Martinez, Sara Cano, Rubén Barakat, Miguel Martín. Exercise intervention to run away from breast cancer treatment side effects: An integrative approach [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-15-08.