Oxidative Stress and Fitness Changes in Cancer Patients after Exercise Training

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an exercise intervention (EX) on muscular strength, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and oxidative stress in cancer survivors compared with a nonexercising cancer control group (CON).

Fifteen cancer patients and seven age-matched individuals with no history of cancer (NC) participated in this study. A blood draw and assessments of muscular strength and CRF were administered to cancer survivors within 6 wk of completing radiation or chemotherapy, and again 10 wk later. Eight cancer patients completed a 10-wk supervised exercise intervention, whereas seven continued standard care. Baseline oxidative stress was compared between cancer patients and the NC group. Changes in plasma protein carbonyls, 8-OHdG, and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity were compared between groups using repeated-measures ANOVA, and correlations between fitness and oxidative stress changes were evaluated.

Baseline antioxidant capacity was significantly lower, and plasma protein carbonyls were significantly higher in cancer patients compared with NC (P = 0.001). EX had a significant increase in antioxidant capacity (P < 0.001) and decrease in protein carbonyls (P = 0.023), whereas CON did not. Improvements in composite arm (41%, P = 0.002) and leg strength (34%, P = 0.008), isometric handgrip strength (11%, P = 0.015), and V˙O2peak (16%, P = 0.018) were significant in EX but not in CON. 8-OHdG changes were significantly correlated with changes in V˙O2peak (r = -0.89, P < 0.001), arm strength (r = -0.67, P = 0.004), and leg strength (r = -0.56, P = 0.019).

A whole-body exercise intervention for cancer survivors may be an effective method of concurrently increasing muscular strength, CRF, and antioxidant capacity while decreasing markers of oxidative stress.