The Impact of Exercise on Cardiotoxicity in Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review

Stephanie J Kendall; Jodi E Langley; Mohsen Aghdam; Bruce N Crooks; Nicholas Giacomantonio; Stefan Heinze-Milne; Will J Johnston; Melanie R Keats; Sharon L Mulvagh; Scott A Grandy

doi:10.3390/curroncol29090500

The Impact of Exercise on Cardiotoxicity in Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review

Curr Oncol. 2022 Sep 3;29(9):6350-6363. doi: 10.3390/curroncol29090500.

Authors

Stephanie J Kendall^{1

2}, Jodi E Langley^{2

3}, Mohsen Aghdam^{1

2}, Bruce N Crooks^{2

4}, Nicholas Giacomantonio⁵, Stefan Heinze-Milne^{2

6}, Will J Johnston^{1

2}, Melanie R Keats^{1

2

7}, Sharon L Mulvagh⁵, Scott A Grandy^{1

2

5

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada.
² Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada.
³ Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, IWK Health, Halifax, NS B3K6R8, Canada.
⁵ Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, NS B3H3A7, Canada.
⁶ Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada.
⁷ Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada.

Abstract

Childhood and adolescent cancer survivors are disproportionately more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases from the late effects of cardiotoxic therapies (e.g., anthracycline-based chemotherapy and chest-directed radiotherapy). Currently, dexrazoxane is the only approved drug for preventing cancer treatment-related cardiac damage. While animal models highlight the beneficial effects of exercise cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction, few clinical studies have been conducted. Thus, the objective of this scoping review was to explore the designs and impact of exercise-based interventions for managing cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction in childhood and adolescent cancer survivors. Reviewers used Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology to identify relevant literature. Then, 4616 studies were screened, and three reviewers extracted relevant data from six reports. Reviewers found that exercise interventions to prevent cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction in childhood and adolescent cancer survivors vary regarding frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise intervention. Further, the review suggests that exercise promotes positive effects on managing cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction across numerous indices of heart health. However, the few clinical studies employing exercise interventions for childhood and adolescent cancer survivors highlight the necessity for more research in this area.

Keywords: adolescent; cancer; cancer survivor; cardiotoxicity; exercise; pediatric.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anthracyclines / adverse effects
Cancer Survivors*
Cardiotoxicity / etiology
Dexrazoxane* / therapeutic use
Heart Diseases* / chemically induced
Heart Diseases* / drug therapy
Humans
Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Survivors

Substances

Anthracyclines
Dexrazoxane

Grants and funding

This paper was not funded. However, the following authors are students supported in their programs via the stated funders. Stephanie Kendall is a trainee in the Cancer Research Training Program of the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, with funds provided by Saunders Matthey. Jodi Langley is supported by the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, funding provided by the Canadian Cancer Society’s Carol Ann Cole Graduate Studentship, and is a trainee in the Cancer Research Training Program. William Johnston is a trainee in the Cancer Research Training Program of the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, with funds provided by CIBC.