Exercise Training and Cytokines in Breast Cancer Survivors

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the effects of an 8-week (aerobic + strength) exercise training program (3 sessions/week) on the circulating cytokine levels of breast cancer survivors. We randomly allocated 16 female survivors of breast cancer (mean +/- SD age: 50 +/- 5 years) to an intervention or usual care (control) group (N = 8 in each group). The intervention group followed an 8-week exercise program consisting of 3 sessions/week (session duration: 90 min). We measured the levels of the following cytokines before and after the intervention: beta-NGF, CTACK, eotaxin, FGF basic, G-CSF, gmCSF alpha, HGF, ICAM1, IFN alpha 2, IFN gamma, IL1 alpha, IL1 beta, IL1ra, IL2, IL2ra, IL3, IL4, IL6, IL7, IL8, IL9, IL10, IL12, IL13, IL15, IL16, IL17, IL18, IP10, LIF, MCS-F, MIP1 alpha, MIP1 beta, MIF, MCP1, MCP3, MIG, PDGF bb, SCF, SCGF beta, SDF1 alpha, TRAIL, TNF alpha, TNF beta, VCAM1, and VEGF. We only observed a significant interaction (group*time) effect for CTACK (P = 0.016), with mean values remaining stable in the intervention group but increasing over time in controls. The intervention program did not induce a significant decrease in the main breast cancer-related cytokines such as IL6 and IL8. A combined (aerobic + strength) 8-week exercise training intervention did not induce major changes in the basal cytokine levels of breast cancer survivors.