Exercise and Aerobic Fitness to Reduce Cancer-Related Cardiovascular Toxicity

Several cancer treatments are associated with vascular toxicity, mainly mediated by their effects on endothelial cell function. In turn, vascular dysfunction may contribute to cardiac damage and other cardiovascular side effects such as hypertension, stroke, and arterial and venous thrombosis. Aerobic exercise is associated with numerous beneficial effects on the endothelium and on cardiovascular risk factors, and may potentially modulate some of the mechanisms of vascular damage associated with antineoplastic therapies, thereby reducing their cardiovascular toxicity. To date, only a very limited number of studies have focused on the effects of supervised exercise on endothelial function in cancer patients undergoing treatment and molecular mechanisms remain to be explored. Further mechanistic, translational, and clinical research is needed to investigate the potential protective role of exercise on the vascular toxicity of cancer treatments.