Pilot Study on the Impact of a Home-Based Exercise Program on Inflammatory Cytokines and Quality of Life in Men with Prostate Cancer Under Active Surveillance

Objectives: This study aimed to demonstrate potential translation of pre-clinical studies to a home-based exercise intervention in mediating inflammatory cytokine markers and tumor progression in men under active surveillance for prostate cancer. Methods: A 2-arm randomized control parallel group design was used. The exercise intervention consisted of 24 weeks of an aerobic and resistance home-based exercise program and results were compared to a waitlist control group. Data were collected at baseline and end of study for eotaxin, interferon-γ (INF-γ), interleukin-12 (IL-12), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), distanced walked during a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), body mass index, and health-related quality of life. Results: Non-significant decreases were observed in all biomarkers, especially VEGF (pre: 125.16 ± 198.66, post: 80.29 ± 124.30, P =.06) and INF-γ (pre: 152.88 ± 312.71, post: 118.93 ± 158.79, P =.08), in the intervention group; only IL- α (pre: 332.15 ± 656.77, post: 255.12 ± 502.09, P =.20) decreased in the control group while all other biomarkers increased from baseline to end of study. A non-significant increase in 6MWT distance was observed in the intervention group, while a decrease was seen in the control group. Significant decreases in physical function, emotional wellbeing, and total composite scale on the FACIT-F were observed in the intervention group, possibly due to the isolation restrictions of COVID-19. Physical function on the SF-36 significantly increased in the control group. Conclusions: Future studies with powered samples are needed to confirm the trends observed for inflammatory biomarkers and functional fitness.