Key result
RCT protocol tests whether heavy-load resistance training preserves muscle fiber size during breast cancer chemotherapy.
Why the study?
Chemotherapy for breast cancer impairs muscle tissue and cardiorespiratory fitness, but the effects of resistance training alone during treatment have never been explored.
Does supervised heavy-load resistance training improve muscle fiber size in women with breast cancer undergoing (neo-)adjuvant chemotherapy?
RCT (n=50)
randomized
Does supervised heavy-load resistance training improve muscle fiber size in women with breast cancer undergoing (neo-)adjuvant chemotherapy?
This study protocol outlines an RCT to determine if heavy-load resistance training can counteract the deleterious effects of chemotherapy on skeletal muscle in women with breast cancer.
RCT protocol tests heavy-load resistance training for muscle preservation during chemotherapy; extends sparse randomized data on exercise oncology interventions.
INTRODUCTION: (Neo-)adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer has a deleterious impact on muscle tissue resulting in reduced cardiorespiratory fitness, skeletal muscle mass and function. Physical exercise during treatment may counteract some of these negative effects. However, the effects of resistance training (RT) alone have never been explored. The present study aims to investigate if heavy-load RT during (neo-)adjuvant chemotherapy counteracts deleterious effects on skeletal muscle in women diagnosed with breast cancer. We hypothesize that (neo-)adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy will reduce muscle fiber size, impair mitochondrial function, and increase indicators of cellular stress and that RT during treatment will counteract these negative effects. We also hypothesize that RT during (neo-)adjuvant chemotherapy will increase muscle and blood levels of potential antitumor myokines and reduce treatment-related side effects on muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness. METHODS: Fifty women recently diagnosed with breast cancer scheduled to start (neo-)adjuvant chemotherapy will be randomized to either randomized to either intervention group or to control group.The intervention group will perform supervised heavy-load RT twice a week over the course of chemotherapy (approximately 16-weeks) whereas the control group will be encouraged to continue with their usual activities. Muscle biopsies from m. vastus lateralis will be collected before the first cycle of chemotherapy (T0), after chemotherapy (T1), and 6 months later (T2) for assessment of muscle cellular outcomes. The primary outcome for this study is muscle fiber size. Secondary outcomes are: regulators of muscle fiber size and function, indicators of cellular stress and mitochondrial function, myokines with potential antitumor effects, muscle strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Regional Ethical Review Board in Uppsala, Sweden (Dnr:2016/230/2). Results will be disseminated through presentations at scientific meetings, publications in peer-reviewed journals, social media, and patient organizations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04586517.
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Strandberg et al. (2021) conducted an RCT in breast cancer (n=50). Supervised heavy-load resistance training vs. usual activities was evaluated on muscle fiber size. This randomized controlled trial protocol will evaluate whether supervised heavy-load resistance training during chemotherapy preserves muscle fiber size in 50 women with breast cancer.
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