Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) improves life expectancy in prostate cancer (PCa) patients, but is associated with adverse effects on muscle mass. Here, we investigated the effects of strength training during ADT on muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) and regulators of muscle mass.
PCa patients on ADT were randomized to 16 weeks of strength training (STG) (n = 12) or a control group (CG; n = 11). Muscle biopsies were obtained from m. vastus lateralis and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Muscle fiber CSA increased with strength training (898 μm(2) , P = 0. 04), with the only significant increase observed in type II fibers (1076 μm(2) , P = 0. 03). There was a trend toward a difference in mean change between groups myonuclei number (0. 33 nuclei/fiber, P = 0. 06), with the only significant increase observed in type I fibers, which decreased the myonuclear domain size of type I fibers (P = 0. 05). Satellite cell numbers and the content of androgen receptor and myostatin remained unchanged. Sixteen weeks of strength training during ADT increased type II fiber CSA and reduced myonuclear domain in type I fibers in PCa patients. The increased number of satellite cells normally seen following strength training was not observed.
Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. 2015 Aug 17 [Epub ahead of print]
T S Nilsen, L Thorsen, S D Fosså, M Wiig, C Kirkegaard, E Skovlund, H B Benestad, T Raastad
Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway. , Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. , Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. , Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway. , Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway. , Norwegian Institute of Public Health and School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. , Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. , Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.