title: Prospective study of exercise intervention in prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is an important component of modern prostate cancer treatment. Survival benefits from neo-adjuvant and adjuvant hormones may take years to manifest, and balancing this with potential morbidity of therapy can be challenging. This study aimed to assess whether education and short-term combined aerobic and resistance exercises could help to ameliorate the adverse side effects of ADT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight hundred fifty-nine patients with relapsed or metastatic prostate cancer on leuprorelin acetate were allocated to three interventional streams based on patient preference and medical fitness: supervised group (Face-to-Face) exercise sessions, home-based (At Home) exercise or a support programme for those incapable of exercising (Support). Patients enrolled onto Face to Face underwent measurement of body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness variables at baseline and programme completion. Patients in the exercise streams were surveyed to determine the programme's impact on physical fitness and well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.001) were seen in all measured cardiorespiratory fitness and strength variables. Programme attrition rates were low (75/859; 8.7%), the primary reason for withdrawal being discontinuation of hormones (70%). Programme satisfaction was high, with 98% of surveyed patients reporting a positive impact on fitness and 97% planning to continue exercising after programme completion. At 6 months, improved physical and emotional well-being was reported by 93 and 79% of patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A short-term structured exercise intervention results in high compliance and significant improvements in muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in prostate cancer patients on ADT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, St George Hospital, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beydoun
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: Yaw S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spry
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Galvão
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015984:Causality; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D016729:Leuprolide
keywords: androgen deprivation; cardiovascular disease; physical exercise; prostate cancer