Exercise as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for the prevention of cardiovascular dysfunction in breast cancer patients

Background Anthracycline chemotherapy may be associated with decreased cardiac function and functional capacity measured as the peak oxygen uptake during exercise ( V · O 2 peak). We sought to determine (a) whether a structured exercise training program would attenuate reductions in V · O 2 peak and (b) whether exercise cardiac imaging is a more sensitive marker of cardiac injury than the current standard of care resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods Twenty-eight patients with early stage breast cancer undergoing anthracycline chemotherapy were able to choose between exercise training (mean ± SD age 47 ± 9 years, n = 14) or usual care (mean ± SD age 53 ± 9 years, n = 14). Measurements performed before and after anthracycline chemotherapy included cardiopulmonary exercise testing to determine V · O 2 peak and functional disability ( V · O 2 peak