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Influence of physical activity on the immune system in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy

  • Original Article – Clinical Oncology
  • Published:
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Physical activity can impact the immune system in different ways, e.g. by alteration of the humoral and cellular immune response. Physical activity at medium intensity enhances numbers of cytotoxic T cells, NK cells and macrophages in healthy people. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of endurance and resistance training on the immune system in breast cancer patients during adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

In a prospective, controlled and randomized intervention exploratory trial, 12-week supervised endurance or resistance training were compared with usual care twice a week. Endpoints were the absolute numbers of the immune cells such as CD3+ T lymphocytes including CD4+- and CD8+, αβ T cells, γδT cells, CD3−/CD16+/56+ NK cells and CD19+ B cells, before and after 12 weeks of treatment. Cell numbers were analyzed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting.

Results

Despite different physical interventions in all groups immune cell count decreased in CD3 T cells including TCR αβ and CD4 T cells, NK cells and CD19 B cells 12 weeks after initiation of chemotherapy and start of the physical intervention program, while the reduction of γδ T cells and CD8 T cells is less prominent in the RT and UC group.

Conclusion

Chemotherapy led to a decrease in nearly all measured immune cells. In this study, physical intervention with endurance or resistance training did not suppress cellular immunity any further. Larger multicenter trials are needed to evaluate the exact impact of sports intervention on immune cell subpopulations.

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Acknowledgements

With kind support of the Cancer Society Schleswig–Holstein, the Krumme Foundation and of the Foundation Living with Cancer (Stiftung Leben mit Krebs), O. Stremme, MD, our medical technicians S. Haman and F. Rösel, our study nurse B. Schütt and K.Yoo-Ott as well as S. Ussat for technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Comprehensive Cancer Center North, University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller Straße 3, Haus 14, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Thorsten Schmidt & Christoph Röcken

  2. OB/GYN, University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller Straße 3, Haus 24, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Walter Jonat, Lisa Keller & Christoph Mundhenke

  3. Institute of Immunology, University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller Straße 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Daniela Wesch, Hans-Heinrich Oberg & Sabine Adam-Klages

Authors
  1. Thorsten Schmidt
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  2. Walter Jonat
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  3. Daniela Wesch
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  4. Hans-Heinrich Oberg
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  5. Sabine Adam-Klages
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  6. Lisa Keller
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  8. Christoph Mundhenke
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Correspondence to Thorsten Schmidt.

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Schmidt, T., Jonat, W., Wesch, D. et al. Influence of physical activity on the immune system in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 144, 579–586 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-017-2573-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-017-2573-5

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