Exercise therapy across the prostate cancer continuum

Abstract

Exercise has been increasingly investigated as an adjunct therapy for cancer patients. The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively review the literature regarding exercise as a therapeutic adjunct for prostate cancer (PC). Several studies in patients with PC have shown quality of life improvements associated with exercise. Although no study has established the effect of exercise as a monotherapy for PC, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the potential association between exercise and PC are being elucidated. Given the low-risk, high-reward nature of these studies, further investigations are needed to better define the function of exercise along the PC continuum.

Prostate Cancer Risk in Men with Baseline History of Coronary Artery Disease: Results from the REDUCE Study

“…First, we did not have available data such as markers of systemic inflammation, physical activity level, diet, nor serial body weight measurements over the course of the study, which are all proposed factors important in both PCa and CAD (28). Second, this is an investigation examining proximal PCa outcomes (i.e., overall risk and disease grade) and did not explore CAD's role in disease progression.…”

Preoperative weight change and risk of adverse outcome following radical prostatectomy: results from the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital database

“…Whether such changes actually slow tumor growth is unknown, though such an approach is unlikely to be harmful. 24 Conversely, an obese man who continues to gain weight may put himself in double jeopardy both through obesity and through continued caloric excess and weight gain. Furthermore, the identification that weight gain independent of BMI promotes tumor growth, if confirmed across multiple treatment types, has far reaching implications and should at least spur research into understanding the molecular mechanisms through which this occurs leading to targeted therapies to block these pathways and clinical trials aimed at preventing weight gain.…”

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“…Several authors, including Antonelli, et al [8], Khan, et al [9], Sheffield, et al [10], Culos-Reed, et al [11], Schneider, et al [12] and Blanchard, et al [13] also describe the importance of lifestyle changes in improving the quality of life of prostate cancer patients.…”

“…Antonelli, et al [8] in an extensive review, state no research established the effects of exercise as a type of monotherapy for prostate cancer, but the molecular mechanisms responsible for the likely association between exercise and prostate cancer are being clarified. It will then allow researchers to find out the role of exercise in preventing or delaying the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.…”

“…A new reported from a group of specialists of the World Cancer Research Foundation and the American Institute for Cancer Research cited by Antonelli, et al [8] concluded that evidence supporting the association between exercise and prostate cancer is restricted to formal judging. In this same article, another major prospective cohort study involving 23 locations in 10 European countries was conducted to verify dietary habits, lifestyle, and occurrence of different types of cancer, revealing a tendency towards reduced risk of prostate cancer in individuals engaging in higher physical occupation.…”