Effect of exercise before and/or during taxane-containing chemotherapy treatment on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms in women with breast cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis

Rosiered Brownson-Smith; Samuel T Orange; Nicola Cresti; Katherine Hunt; John Saxton; John Temesi

doi:10.1007/s11764-023-01450-w

Effect of exercise before and/or during taxane-containing chemotherapy treatment on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms in women with breast cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis

J Cancer Surviv. 2023 Aug 24. doi: 10.1007/s11764-023-01450-w. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Rosiered Brownson-Smith¹, Samuel T Orange^{2

3}, Nicola Cresti⁴, Katherine Hunt⁴, John Saxton⁵, John Temesi⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. Rosiered.brownson-smith@northumbria.ac.uk.
² School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle uponTyne, UK.
³ Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK.
⁴ Northern Centre for Cancer Care, The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
⁵ School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK.
⁶ Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.

PMID: 37615928
DOI: 10.1007/s11764-023-01450-w

Abstract

Purpose: To systematically review and meta-analyse the efficacy of exercise interventions delivered before and/or during taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), fatigue, and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), in women with breast cancer.

Methods: Seven electronic databases were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on the effects of exercise interventions in women with breast cancer receiving taxane-containing chemotherapeutic treatment. Meta-analyses evaluated the effects of exercise on CIPN symptoms, fatigue, and HR-QoL.

Results: Ten trials involving exercise interventions ranging between 2 and 12 months were included. The combined results of four RCTs consisting of 171 participants showed a reduction in CIPN symptoms following exercise compared with usual care (standardised mean difference - 0.71, 95% CI - 1.24 to - 0.17, p = 0.012; moderate-quality evidence, I² = 76.9%). Pooled results from six RCTs with 609 participants showed that exercise interventions before and/or during taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens improved HR-QoL (SMD 0.42, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.76, p = 0.03; moderate-quality evidence, I² = 49.6%). There was no evidence of an effect of exercise on fatigue (- 0.39, 95% CI - 0.95 to 0.18, p = 0.15; very low-quality evidence, I² = 90.1%).

Conclusions: This systematic review found reduced levels of CIPN symptoms and an improvement in HR-QoL in women with breast cancer who exercised before and/or during taxane-based chemotherapy versus usual care controls.

Implications for cancer survivors: This evidence supports the role of exercise as an adjunctive treatment for attenuating the adverse effects of taxane-containing chemotherapy on CIPN symptoms and HR-QoL.

Keywords: Cancer; Chemotherapy; Exercise; Fatigue; Neuropathy; Quality of life.

Publication types

Review