A randomized controlled trial of home-based combined exercise training for improving inflammatory markers and...

The recurrence of breast cancer is a significant concern for survivors of the disease. This study aimed to examine the impact of 16 weeks of home-based combined exercise training (HET) and aerobic exercise training (AE) on biological markers related to breast cancer and physical function in breast cancer survivors.

Forty-two breast cancer survivors were randomly assigned to three groups: control, HET, and AE. HET comprised a combination of resistance and aerobic exercise training conducted at home. The interventions were performed three times per week for 16 weeks. Blood samples and physical performance were evaluated before and after the intervention period.

The findings indicated that both AE and HET diminished the inflammatory markers interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), as well as body weight, body fat percentage, and body mass index, compared with the control group. Furthermore, both exercise interventions significantly increased IL-10 and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and improved cardiorespiratory fitness and flexibility compared with the control group. In addition, compared with the AE group, HET training produced significantly greater improvements in IL-10, SHBG, and upper- and lower-limb strength, and a greater reduction in body fat percentage.

These findings suggest that both AE and HET can improve cancer-related biomarkers in breast cancer survivors; however, HET appears to provide superior benefits for these biomarkers and physical performance compared with AE.