Abstract CT531: A 16-week circuit interval-based exercise intervention reduces systemic inflammation in obese, sedentary cancer survivors

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Obesity and a lack of physical activity lead to systemic and chronic inflammation among cancer survivors, which are highly associated with various comorbidities (e.g., type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome) and poor oncologic prognosis. Exercise, optimized to benefit physiological responses, can be an effective strategy to reduce systemic inflammation. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of a 16-week circuit, interval-based exercise training program on proinflammatory cytokines in cancer survivors who are obese and sedentary. Methods: This study was a single center, pilot randomized controlled trial in 90 survivors of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers who were sedentary (<60 mins of exercise per week) and overweight/obese (body mass index > 25.0 kg/m2). Participants were randomly assigned to either the exercise group (n=60) or the usual care group (n=30). The exercise intervention was moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic (65-85% of VO2max) and resistance (65-85% of 1-repetition maximum) exercise training in a supervised, circuit, interval-based format performed thrice-weekly for 16 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and post-intervention to measure serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and high-sensitive c-reactive protein (hsCRP). Paired t-test and repeated measure ANOVA were used to determine the between-group differences. Results: Participants were aged 63.2±10.8 years and diagnosed with breast (35%), prostate (30%), and colorectal (35%) cancers. 55% were female and mean BMI was 34.7±5.9. 75% completed chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Retention and adherence rates to the exercise intervention was high (100% and 92%, respectively). Compared to usual care, circuit, interval-based exercise significantly reduced IL-6 (between group mean difference, -1.2 pg/mL; p<0.001), IL-8 (-2.4; p<0.001), TNF-α (-1.9 pg/mg; p<0.001), and hsCRP (-0.8 mg/L; p=0.02). Conclusions: A 16-week circuit, interval-based aerobic and resistance exercise training program induced a reduction in systemic levels of proinflammatory cytokines among sedentary and obese breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors. Our findings suggest that combined aerobic and resistance exercise may be an effective strategy to offset elevated systemic inflammation associated with obesity and sedentary behavior in cancer survivors. Citation Format: Dong-Woo Kang, Cami N. Christopher, Amber J. Normann, Mary K. Norris, Christina M. Dieli-Conwright. A 16-week circuit interval-based exercise intervention reduces systemic inflammation in obese, sedentary cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr CT531.