Associations of pre-diagnosis physical activity with treatment tolerance and treatment efficacy in breast cancer patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Dan Lin, Kathleen M. Sturgeon, Joshua E. Muscat, Shouhao Zhou, Andrea L. Hobkirk, Katie M. O’Brien, Dale P. Sandler, Cheryl L. Thompson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Higher pre-diagnosis physical activity (PA) is associated with lower all-cause mortality in breast cancer (BCa) patients. However, the association with pathological complete response (pCR) is unclear. We investigated the association between pre-diagnosis PA level and chemotherapy completion, dose delay, and pCR in BCa patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Methods: 180 stage I–III BCa patients receiving NACT (mean [SD] age of diagnosis: 60.8 [8.8] years) in the Sister Study were included. Self-reported recreational and total PA levels were converted to metabolic equivalent of task-hours per week (MET-hrs/wk). The pCR was defined as no invasive or in situ residual in breast or lymph node (ypT0 ypN0). Multivariable logistic regression analyses estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for treatment outcomes. Results: In this sample, 45 (25.0%) BCa patients achieved pCR. Higher pre-diagnosis recreational PA was not associated with lower likelihood of chemotherapy completion (highest vs. lowest tertile: OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.30–2.56; Ptrend = 0.84), greater dose delay (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 0.54–3.92; Ptrend = 0.46), or greater odds of pCR (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 0.49–3.34; Ptrend = 0.44). Associations were similar for pre-diagnosis total PA. Meeting the recommended level of recreational PA was not associated with pCR overall (≥ 7.5 vs. < 7.5 MET-hrs/wk: OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.59–3.01). Conclusions: Although small sample size and limited information on exercise closer to time of diagnosis limit interpretation, pre-diagnosis PA was not convincingly associated with treatment tolerance or treatment efficacy in BCa patients receiving NACT. Future investigations are needed to better understand the impact of pre-diagnosis PA on BCa treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)519-528
Number of pages10
JournalBreast Cancer
Volume31
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2024

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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