Key result
Structured exercise interventions in women under 50 with breast cancer improved VO2 peak by up to 4.4 mL/kg/min and physical functioning, with adherence ranging from 61.0% to 90.6%.
Why the study?
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women under 50, but evidence regarding the role of exercise across the continuum of care in this age group remains limited.
Do structured exercise interventions improve functional and patient-reported outcomes in women <50 years with early-stage breast cancer?
Do structured exercise interventions improve functional and patient-reported outcomes in women <50 years with early-stage breast cancer?
Structured exercise interventions, including cardiac rehabilitation, are feasible and provide clinically meaningful functional and quality-of-life benefits for young women undergoing or recovering from breast cancer treatment.
Supervised exercise during anthracycline therapy is feasible in young BC patients; extends RCT evidence for early cardio-oncology intervention.
Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women under 50. Exercise is essential in BC care, yet evidence in this age group remains limited. This study assessed the feasibility, adherence, and clinical benefits of exercise across the continuum of early-stage BC in women <50 years. Materials and Methods: Post hoc analyses of three studies: MAMA MOVE GAIA on-treatment, a randomized clinical trial comparing supervised concurrent training during anthracycline therapy with usual care; CORE, a randomized clinical trial comparing center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) with community-based exercise training (CBET) in survivors at high cardiovascular risk; and MAMA MOVE GAIA after-treatment, a prospective longitudinal study enrolling women who had completed curative-intent treatment. Analyses focused on adherence and key functional and patient-reported outcomes. Results: Patients < 50 represented 51% of MAMA MOVE GAIA on-treatment ( n = 35), 34% of CORE ( n = 17), and 19% of MAMA MOVE GAIA after-treatment ( n = 7). In MAMA MOVE GAIA on-treatment, participants improved VO 2 peak (+4.4 mL/kg/min), physical functioning (+13.3points), and fatigue (−16.3 points). In CORE, VO 2 peak improved within CBCR (+1.6 mL/kg/min), with better body mass index (−1.2 kg/m²) and quality of life (+12.2 points) versus CBET. In MAMA MOVE GAIA after-treatment, women showed gains in muscle strength. Adherence ranged from 61.0% to 90.6%. Conclusions: Patients < 50 years derive clinically meaningful benefits from exercise, reinforcing the importance of integrating structured interventions across the BC care continuum.
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Leão et al. (2025) studied Breast cancer (n=59). Structured exercise interventions vs. Usual care or community-based exercise training was evaluated on Feasibility, adherence, and clinical benefits (VO2 peak, physical functioning, fatigue, quality of life). Structured exercise interventions in women under 50 with breast cancer improved VO2 peak by up to 4.4 mL/kg/min and physical functioning, with adherence ranging from 61.0% to 90.6%.
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