Effect of Exercise Training on Exercise Tolerance and Level of Oxidative Stress for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Following Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy decreases fitness performance via repression of cardiopulmonary function and oxidative stress. This study was designed to investigate whether exercise intervention could improve exercises capacity and reduce systemic oxidative stress in patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: This is a single-center study. Forty-two H&N cancer patients who were undergoing chemotherapy were recruited in this study. An 8-week exercise intervention was performed by conducting the combination of aerobic and resistance exercise 3 days a week. The exercise training was conducted by a physiotherapist. The exercise capacity and exercise responses were measured from blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Oxidative stress markers from human plasma, such as total antioxidant capacity, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, malondialdehyde, and carbonyl content, were tested by activity kits. RESULTS: We provide compelling evidence that exercise training ameliorated exercise responses and increased exercise capacity by repressing resting BP and increasing 1- and 3-min BP recovery. We also found the resting HR was reduced, and the 1- and 3-min HR recovery was increased after exercise training. In addition, the rating of perceived exertion after the peak exercise was reduced after exercise intervention. We also found that exercise training repressed oxidative stress markers by elevation of total antioxidant capacity and suppression of 8-OHd and carbonyl content in plasma. DISCUSSION: We clearly demonstrate that exercise can promote exercise capacity and reduce oxidative stress in H&N cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, which might guide new therapeutic approaches for cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy.

Multimodal exercise ameliorates exercise responses and body composition in head and neck cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Studies have found that many chemotherapy drugs will produce multiple side effects and complications in cancer patients, especially in the case of the cardiovascular disease. This study was intended to investigate whether the exercise training intervention could improve the body composition and exercise responses of patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer who are receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: This is a randomized controlled trial. Eighty-four H&N patients were assigned to sedentary group or exercise group. The data were collected pretraining and posttraining, where the body composition, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), rate-pressure product (RPP), and exercise capacity were measured. RESULTS: Our data reported that body weight and body mass index were decreased after 8 weeks of chemotherapy in the sedentary group but not in the exercise group. The decreased visceral fat and the increased skeletal muscle rate had been found in the exercise group after 8 weeks of training. In addition, in the exercise group, the HR, HR recovery, BP, BP recovery, RPP, and minutes walking distance were better than the sedentary group. Results from this study suggested exercise training significantly improved exercise responses and body composition. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that exercise can help to promote cardiopulmonary fitness and exercise capacity for H&N cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma in eastern Taiwan: high proportion among all urothelial carcinomas and correlation with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: This study investigated the incidence of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC) in eastern Taiwan and its association with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: A total of 110 patients with histologically proven UUT-UC over a recent 20-year period were retrospectively analyzed to determine the clinical profile, overall survival and correlation with CKD. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 68.7 +/- 9.8 years (range, 43-93 years), and the male to female ratio was 1 to 1.16 (51:59). The ratio of urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the renal pelvis to UC of the ureter to UC of the bladder was 1.2:1:6.7. UC of the renal pelvis accounted for 10.8% of all urinary tract UC, and for 41% of all renal cancer detected during the study period. The 2-, 5- and 10-year cancer-specific survival rates of patients with UUT-UC were 75%, 53.0% and 29%, respectively. Patients with high grade and high stage UUT-UC had significantly worse prognosis than those with low grade (p = 0.0047) and low stage (p = 0.0021). Of the 110 patients, 64 (58%) had impaired renal function (glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2; defined as CKD), including 14 (13%) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) before diagnosis. Patients with CKD or ESRD had significantly worse prognosis than those with normal renal function (p = 0.0399). High grade UC was found in 35 of 58 patients with CKD or ESRD (60%), which was significantly higher than in patients with normal renal function (12/26, 26%; p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: A high proportion of UUT-UC was observed among all UCs and a significantly higher percentage of high grade UUT-UC (60%) were found in patients with CKD or ESRD in eastern Taiwan. These findings suggest that CKD and ESRD might play a role in the development of UC especially in the upper urinary tract.