title: Impact of a half marathon on cellular immune system, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and recovery behavior of breast cancer patients in the aftercare compared to healthy controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exercise has beneficial effects on cancer prevention as well as on prognosis of patients with cancer. To optimize the outcomes of exercise programs, more knowledge about the underlying mechanisms is needed. This study investigates the short-term effects of a half marathon on immune cell proportions, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and recovery behavior of patients with breast cancer in the aftercare compared to healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients with breast cancer in the aftercare and 9 healthy age-matched controls participated in a half marathon. Blood samples were collected before, after, and 24 h after the run. Immune status was measured by flow cytometer analysis, while serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and MIF were assessed using ELISA. Recovery behavior was determined using an ADL monitor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups showed a similar recovery behavior and time courses in changes of granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, and cytokine serum levels. Patients revealed increased proportions of cytotoxic and memory T cells, whereas helper and naïve T cells were decreased compared to healthy controls. Naïve and memory T-cell proportions were not affected by the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with breast cancer in the aftercare and healthy subjects show a similarly recovery behavior and immune response to the intervention. The detected differences in T-cell subsets need further investigation. Based on the results of the study, we hypothesize that immune cell subsets with known relevance in cancer were mobilized through the intervention. We confirm that the hypothesis of a midterm anti-inflammatory effect of exercise is also valid for patients with breast cancer in the aftercare.
authors: Department for molecular and cellular sports medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Zimmer
authors: Department for molecular and cellular sports medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Freerk T
authors: FT
authors: Baumann
authors: Department for molecular and cellular sports medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Wilhelm
authors: W
authors: Bloch
authors: Department for molecular and cellular sports medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Eva Maria
authors: EM
authors: Zopf
authors: Department for molecular and cellular sports medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Saskia
authors: S
authors: Schulz
authors: Institute of Cardiology and Sportsmedicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Latsch
authors: Department for molecular and cellular sports medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Friederike
authors: F
authors: Schollmayer
authors: Cologne Interventional Immunology, Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Shimabukuro-Vornhagen
authors: Cologne Interventional Immunology, Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: von Bergwelt-Baildon
authors: Department for molecular and cellular sports medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Schenk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000097:blood; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000276:immunology*; D012420:Running; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C515598:MIF protein, human
keywords: breast cancer; cytokines; exercise; immune system; recovery