Abstract 6290: Effects of a circuit, interval-based exercise program on vascular function among cancer survivors

Abstract

Abstract Background: Cancer survivors are at an increased risk of cardiovascular comorbidity, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure, due to negative impacts of cancer treatments on vascular function. Exercise is recommended in recent cardio-oncology rehabilitation guidelines and has been shown to improve vascular function in clinical populations; however, its effects on vascular function are understudied in clinical oncology settings. Purpose: This pilot study examined whether a circuit, interval-based exercise intervention can improve vascular function, assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (baFMD) and carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) in breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors. Methods: Overweight or obese (BMI>25.0 kg/m2), sedentary breast, prostate or colorectal cancer survivors were randomized to exercise (n=60) or usual care (n=30). Survivors in the 4-month exercise intervention trained three times/week, in a circuit, interval-based supervised moderate-vigorous aerobic (65-85% of VO2max) and resistance (65-85% of 1-repetition maximum) program. cIMT and baFMD were measured at baseline and post-intervention via an ultrasound. Paired t-tests and repeated-measures analysis of variance were run to assess within- and between-group differences. Results: The study sample included breast (n=38), prostate (n=24), colorectal (n=28) cancer survivors who were 63.2 ± 10.8 years old, completed chemotherapy and/or radiation (75%) and were obese (87%). Post-intervention, baFMD significantly increased in the exercise group compared to the control group (between-group mean difference: 6.3%; 95% CI: [1.9 to 9.3], p=0.001). There was also a significant reduction in cIMT in the exercise group compared to the control group (between-group mean difference: -0.039mm, 95% CI: [-0.080 to -0.009], p=0.002). Conclusions: Our findings in this pilot study support that a circuit, interval-based aerobic and resistance exercise intervention may improve vascular function in breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors. Future studies are recommended to understand how exercise interventions can be utilized clinically to improve cardiovascular disease risk and co-morbidity among cancer survivors. Citation Format: Cami N. Christopher, Dong-Woo Kang, Paola Gonzalo-Encabo, Rebekah L. Wilson, Amber J. Normann, Mary K. Norris, Christina M. Dieli-Conwright. Effects of a circuit, interval-based exercise program on vascular function among cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6290.