Exercise Improves V[Combining Dot Above]O 2max and Body Composition in ADT-treated Prostate Cancer Patients

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) experience unfavourbale changes in body composition and associated metabolic complications, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. We examined the effect of a 6-month program of aerobic and resistance exercise aimed at improving body composition and cardiorespiratory health in this population.

Ninety-seven men (43-90 years) with localized prostate cancer receiving ADT were randomized to either exercise (EX, n=50) or usual care (CON, n=47). Supervised exercise was undertaken twice-weekly at moderate-to-high intensity. Measures of cardiorespiratory capacity (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max), resting metabolic rate, central blood pressure, hemodynamic variables, blood markers, and body composition were assessed.

There was a significant group by time interaction present for V[Combining Dot Above]O2max (p=0.033) with a treatment effect for EX of 0.11 (95% CI, 0.04-0.19) L.min [relative to body mass 1.3 (95% CI, 0.3-2.3) ml.kg.min], and fat oxidation (p=0.037) of 12.0 (95% CI, 2.3-21.7) mg.min. Similarly, there was a significant improvement in glucose (p<0.001) for EX of -0.5 (95% CI, -0.8 to -0.3) mmol/L, with no change in PSA or testosterone as a result of exercise. Body composition was enhanced for EX with adjusted mean differences in lean mass (p=0.015) of 0.8 (95% CI, 0.3-1.3) kg, total fat mass (p=0.020) of -1.1 (95% CI, -1.8 to -0.5) kg, and trunk fat mass (p<0.001) of -1.0 (95% CI, -1.4 to -0.6) kg.

A 6-month combined aerobic and resistance exercise program has a significant favorable impact on cardiorespiratory capacity, resting fat oxidation, glucose and body composition despite the adverse effects of hormone suppression. Combined aerobic and resistance training should be considered a key adjuvant component in men undergoing ADT for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 2017 Mar 18 [Epub ahead of print]

Bradley A Wall, Daniel A Galvão, Naeem Fatehee, Dennis R Taaffe, Nigel Spry, David Joseph, Jeffrey J Hebert, Robert U Newton

1Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia 2School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia 3School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia 4School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia 5Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia, 6Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia 7Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia.