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

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

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.

Citation

Brownson-Smith, R., Orange, S. T., Cresti, N., Hunt, K., Saxton, J., & Temesi, J. (in press). 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. Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-023-01450-w

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 23, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Aug 24, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 30, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 31, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Cancer Survivorship
• Print ISSN: 1932-2259
• Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-023-01450-w
• Keywords: Cancer; Neuropathy; Exercise; Chemotherapy; Quality of life; Fatigue
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4371880
• Additional Information: Received: 22 February 2023; Accepted: 13 August 2023; First Online: 24 August 2023; : ; : Informed consent was not applicable for this review.; : The authors declare no competing interests.