Conclusion
These results suggest that exercise might have elicited a positive effect on CRF, which was not mediated by the modulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine profile. However, the decrease in IL-6/IL-10 ratio in the exercise group might reflect a possible anti-inflammatory effect of exercise. Moreover, exploratory analyses suggest that an acute effect of chemotherapy treatments influenced the inflammatory profile measurements, which could explain the absence of change in the fasting inflammatory profile.
Methods
Twenty older non-metastatic cancer patients initiating chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of supervised, combined exercise or a control group (static stretching). Primary outcomes were the inflammatory profile, Indoleamine 2,3-deoxygenase activity (KYN/TRP ratio), and CRF (FACIT-F questionnaire). Control outcomes were the fasting nutritional and hormonal blood profiles, body composition (iDXA), physical activity habits (PASE questionnaire), nutritional habits (3-day log), and treatment-related variables.
Results
No worsening of the inflammatory profile was observed in both arms of the study after the intervention. No significant change in CRF was observed, although there was a trend for a reduction in the experimental group (p = 0.10). Significant correlations were found at both timepoints between the KYN/TRP ratio and the delay with the previous treatment received (p ≤ 0.03).