Title:Effects of Exercise on Vascular Toxicity Associated with Breast Cancer
Treatment: A Narrative Review
Volume: 21
Issue: 1
Author(s): Marina L.D. Pera and Guilherme F. Speretta*
Affiliation:
- Multicenter Post-Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis,
SC, Brazil
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Biological Sciences Centre, Federal University of Santa Catarina
(UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
Keywords:
Aging, cardiotoxicity, chemotherapy, physical activity, radiotherapy, breast cancer, vascular dysfunction.
Abstract: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, and its incidence is
linearly associated with age. The development of cancer treatments has changed the prognosis of this
disease. Despite effective treatments, cardiovascular complications in middle-aged and older women
have become challenging. Physical exercise is a powerful tool to prevent senescence symptoms and
diseases, besides being an essential component for cardiovascular diseases and cancer prevention and
treatment. The present narrative review considers the vascular dysfunction associated with breast cancer
treatment, specifically chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and the effects of exercise on vascular toxicity.
We also explored the mechanisms involved in these responses. The search strategy involved three databases
(Pubmed, Scielo, and Web of Science) with the following descriptors: breast cancer, vascular
toxicity, physical exercise, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The evidence showed that breast cancer
patients, especially those under chemotherapy and over 50 years old, have a potential risk of developing
vascular dysfunction, which may persist in the long term. Decreases in nitric oxide bioavailability and
increases in oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines might mediate the chemotherapy and radiotherapy-
induced vascular dysfunction. Exercise seems to be a promising strategy for managing this
risk. However, there is a need for well-constructed studies evaluating vascular toxicity in breast cancer,
especially in middle-aged and elderly patients, to establish whether exercise is beneficial.
