Exercise Leg Blood Flow Is Preserved in Long-term Breast Cancer Survivors Previously Treated With Anthracycline Chemotherapy

Purpose:The objective of this investigation was to compare the acute hemodynamic responses during single-leg knee extension (SLKE) exercise between female breast cancer (BC) survivors previously treated with anthracycline chemotherapy and age- and sex-matched control (CON) subjects. Methods:Fourteen BC survivors (age: 61 +/- 7 yr; time post-anthracycline therapy: 12 +/- 6 yr) and nine CON subjects (age: 59 +/- 7 yr) performed SLKE exercise at 25%, 50%, and 75% of peak power output during which heart rate, blood pressure (BP), leg blood flow (Doppler ultrasonography), and vascular conductance (leg blood flow/mean BP) were measured. Quadriceps mass was estimated from thigh volume and skinfold measures. Results:Breast cancer survivors had lower quadriceps mass compared with CON subjects (1803 +/- 607 vs 2601 +/- 1102 g, P = .04). No difference was found between groups for maximal SLKE power output (28 +/- 11 vs 34 +/- 17 W, P = .35), heart rate (109 +/- 14 vs 103 +/- 13 bpm, P = .36), or mean arterial BP (122 +/- 18 vs 119 +/- 26 mm Hg, P = .33). Rest and submaximal exercise mean arterial BP, leg blood flow (indexed to quadriceps muscle mass), and leg vascular conductance were not significantly different between BC survivors and CON subjects. Conclusion:Leg blood flow during submaximal SLKE exercise is preserved in long-term BC survivors previously treated with anthracycline chemotherapy.