Exercise-Induced Circulating Lactate Responses in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Exploratory...

Area of Science:

• Exercise physiology
• Metabolic health
• Cancer survivorship

Background:

• Physical exercise is crucial for breast cancer survivors, improving physical function and quality of life.
• Lactate, once viewed as a byproduct, is now recognized as a key signaling molecule in metabolism and exercise adaptation.
• Understanding exercise-induced lactate changes in survivors is vital but currently lacks comprehensive data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze existing research on exercise-induced circulating lactate responses in breast cancer survivors.
• To critically appraise the current evidence regarding lactate metabolism during exercise in this population.
• To identify gaps and inconsistencies in the literature on exercise and lactate in breast cancer survivorship.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) for relevant controlled trials.
• Employed random-effects meta-analysis to pool mean differences in lactate concentrations.

Main Results:

• Three studies contributed to quantitative analysis, with pooled results showing no significant exercise effect on circulating lactate (WMD: 0.03 mmol/L, p=0.81).
• Low statistical heterogeneity (I² = 31.1%) was observed across the included studies.
• Significant variability noted in exercise protocols, intervention lengths, and lactate measurement timing.

Conclusions:

• Exercise-induced lactate responses in breast cancer survivors are currently considered modest and inconsistently reported.
• Limited sample sizes and methodological heterogeneity restrict definitive conclusions.
• Future research requires standardized exercise interventions and metabolic assessments for clearer insights into lactate dynamics in cancer survivorship.