The Effect of 8 Weeks of HICT Training on Serum Levels of BDNF and TNFα and Aerobic Power in Breast Cancer Survivors: Randomized Clinical Trial

In patients with breast cancer, low serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and high serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level have been reported. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of high-intensity circuit training on serum levels of BDNF and TNFα and aerobic power in breast cancer survivors.

This randomized controlled trial was conducted at Shahid Rahimi Hospital Oncology Center in Khorramabad in 2018. Seventeen breast cancer survivors were selected from a group of 55 women who had undergone chemotherapy and radiation therapy and randomly divided into an exercise (n = 9) or a control (n = 8) group. The exercise group performed high-intensity circuit training (HICT) three sessions per week for eight weeks. Data were analyzed using a paired-samples t test and an analysis of covariance.

The results of the t test showed that after eight weeks, serum levels of BDNF and TNF-α were significantly increased in both groups (p ˂ 0.05), although the difference between the groups was not significant. Aerobic power significantly increased only in the exercise group (p = 0.0005). In addition, the results of the analysis of covariance showed only a significant difference in aerobic power between the two groups (p ˂ 0.05).

Eight weeks of HICT training in breast cancer survivors can increase aerobic capacity without affecting serum levels of BDNF and TNFα.