SISTER STUDY RESEARCH

Pre-diagnosis physical activity and chemotherapy treatment response in breast cancer survivors

Collaborators at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine used clinical information shared by Sister Study participants who had been diagnosed with stage I, II or III breast cancer to determine how exercise affects response to breast cancer treatments. Of the 180 women who were prescribed neoadjuvant (i.e., pre-surgical) chemotherapy, 45 (25%) achieved a pathological complete response, meaning no residual cancer remained after treatment. In an assessment of how pre-diagnosis physical activity levels affected treatment and response, the researchers did not see any association between physical activity levels and participants' response to treatment or their ability to complete their prescribed course of treatment. More research is needed to better understand what factors influence participants' tolerance and response to chemotherapy.

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Associations of pre-diagnosis physical activity with treatment tolerance and treatment efficacy in breast cancer patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.