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Effects of physical exercise on body fat and laboratory biomarkers in cancer patients: a meta-analysis of 35 randomized controlled trials

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Abstract

Background

A growing number of articles had reported the beneficial effects of physical exercise on reduced risks of cancer recurrence and mortality. However, the associations between physical exercise and laboratory biomarkers still had controversy. As we knew, this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was the first time for us to comprehensively clarify their relationships in cancer patients.

Methods

We comprehensively searched the PubMed, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, Web of Science, and SportDiscus online databases to identify eligible articles, up to June 1, 2021. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to clarify their associations. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the impact of the individual on overall and Begg’s/Egger’s plot was utilized to evaluate potential publication bias.

Results

Finally, 35 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were finally enrolled in this meta-analysis. Our results indicated that physical exercise could significantly reduce BMI (pooled SMD = −0.32 − 0.56 to −0.09)), body weight (pooled SMD = −0.31 (−0.54 to −0.08)), body fat (pooled SMD = −0.44 (−0.70 to −0.18)), waist circumference (pooled SMD = −0.50 (−0.76 to −0.23)), hip circumference (pooled SMD = −0.54 (−0.80 to −0.28)), triglyceride (pooled SMD = −0.35 (−0.69 to −0.02)), fasting insulin (pooled SMD = −0.38 (−0.54 to −0.22)), glucose (pooled SMD = −0.56 (−0.84 to −0.28)), insulin resistance (pooled SMD = −0.40 (−0.72 to −0.07)), CRP (pooled SMD = −0.97 (−1.48 to −0.46)), IGF-1 levels (pooled SMD = −0.56 (−0.83 to −0.29)) and remarkably increase IGFBP-3 levels (pooled SMD = 0.81 (0.45 to 1.17)). Further sensitivity analysis and Begg’s or Egger’s test suggested that our results were robust with no significant publication bias.

Conclusions

Our results shed light on the beneficial effects of physical exercise on cancer patients by means of BMI/weight change and various biomarkers alteration (insulin-glucose pathways or inflammatory biomarkers). Our results were anticipated for clinical application to improve cancer patients’ prognosis.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the researchers and study participants for their contributions.

Data availability

All data used to support the findings of this study are included in the article. Please contact author for data requests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, 510000, Guangdong Province, China

    Chang Hu

  2. Physical Education Section, **gzhou Institute of Technology, **gZhou, 434000, Hubei Province, China

    Chang Hu

  3. Department of Physical Education, Central South University, No.932 Lushan South Road, Changsha, 410083, Hunan Province, China

    Jialing Tang & Yang Gao

  4. College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, **gzhou, 434023, Hubei Province, China

    Ran Cao

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  1. Chang Hu
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Contributions

JLT: protocol/project development; YG and RC: data analysis, data collection or management; HC: manuscript writing/editing and manuscript revision

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Correspondence to Jialing Tang.

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Supplementary Information

ESM 1

(DOCX 26 kb)

Supplementary Figure S1.

Flow diagram; (PNG 270 kb)

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Supplementary Figure S2.

Risk of bias graph; (PNG 89 kb)

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Supplementary Figure S3.

Risk of bias summary; (PNG 457 kb)

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Supplementary Figure S4.

Sensitivity analysis and Begg’s funnel plots of (A-B) BMI; (C-D) Body weight; (E-F) Waist circumference; (G-H) Hip circumference; (PNG 613 kb)

High Resolution Image (TIF 2268 kb)

Supplementary Figure S5.

Sensitivity analysis and Begg’s funnel plots of (A-B) Body fat; (C-D) Adiponectin; (E-F) Leptin; (G-H) Triglyceride; (PNG 528 kb)

High Resolution Image (TIF 2158 kb)

Supplementary Figure S6.

Sensitivity analysis and Begg’s funnel plots of (A-B) IL-6; (C-D) IL-8; (E-F) CRP; (G-H) TNF-α; (PNG 624 kb)

High Resolution Image (TIF 2294 kb)

Supplementary Figure S7.

Sensitivity analysis and Begg’s funnel plots of (A-B) IGF-1; (C-D) IGFBP-3; (E-F) VEGF; (PNG 333 kb)

High Resolution Image (TIF 1699 kb)

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Hu, C., Tang, J., Gao, Y. et al. Effects of physical exercise on body fat and laboratory biomarkers in cancer patients: a meta-analysis of 35 randomized controlled trials. Support Care Cancer 30, 1–12 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07013-6

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