Abstract
Purpose To systematically review and meta-analyse the efficacy of exercise interventions delivered before and/or during taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), fatigue and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), in women with breast cancer.
Methods Seven electronic databases were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on the effects of exercise interventions in women with breast cancer receiving taxane-containing chemotherapeutic treatment. Meta-analyses evaluated the effects of exercise on CIPN symptoms, fatigue and HR-QoL.
Results Ten trials involving exercise interventions ranging between 2-12 months were included. The combined results of four RCTs consisting of 171 participants showed a reduction in CIPN symptoms following exercise compared with usual care (standardised mean difference -0.71, 95% CI -1.24 to -0.17, p=0.012; moderate-quality evidence, I2=76.9%). Pooled results from six RCTs with 609 participants showed that exercise interventions before and/or during taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens improved HR-QoL (SMD 0.42, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.76, p=0.03; moderate-quality evidence, I2=49.6%). There was no evidence of an effect of exercise on fatigue (-0.39, 95% CI -0.95 to 0.18, p=0.15; very low-quality evidence, I2=90.1%).
Conclusions This systematic review found reduced levels of CIPN symptoms and an improvement in HR-QoL in women with breast cancer who exercised before and/or during taxane-based chemotherapy versus usual care controls.
Implications for Cancer Survivors This evidence supports the role of exercise as an adjunctive treatment for attenuating the adverse effects of taxane-containing chemotherapy on CIPN symptoms and HR-QoL.
Methods Seven electronic databases were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on the effects of exercise interventions in women with breast cancer receiving taxane-containing chemotherapeutic treatment. Meta-analyses evaluated the effects of exercise on CIPN symptoms, fatigue and HR-QoL.
Results Ten trials involving exercise interventions ranging between 2-12 months were included. The combined results of four RCTs consisting of 171 participants showed a reduction in CIPN symptoms following exercise compared with usual care (standardised mean difference -0.71, 95% CI -1.24 to -0.17, p=0.012; moderate-quality evidence, I2=76.9%). Pooled results from six RCTs with 609 participants showed that exercise interventions before and/or during taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens improved HR-QoL (SMD 0.42, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.76, p=0.03; moderate-quality evidence, I2=49.6%). There was no evidence of an effect of exercise on fatigue (-0.39, 95% CI -0.95 to 0.18, p=0.15; very low-quality evidence, I2=90.1%).
Conclusions This systematic review found reduced levels of CIPN symptoms and an improvement in HR-QoL in women with breast cancer who exercised before and/or during taxane-based chemotherapy versus usual care controls.
Implications for Cancer Survivors This evidence supports the role of exercise as an adjunctive treatment for attenuating the adverse effects of taxane-containing chemotherapy on CIPN symptoms and HR-QoL.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Cancer Survivorship |
| Early online date | 24 Aug 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 24 Aug 2023 |
Keywords
- Cancer
- Neuropathy
- Exercise
- Chemotherapy
- Quality of Life
- Fatigue
