Breast-Cancer Research Program Seeks Volunteers for Exercise Regime

A breast-cancer research program at Penn State designed to determine the impact of exercise on the recovery of the immune system after chemotherapy and radiation treatment has gained respect from other researchers and prompted ongoing support from sponsors. All the study needs now are more participants.

"Our study applies some basic science to an important question," said Andrea Mastro, professor of microbiology and cell biology and principal investigator for the study. "We've been enthused about what we've done to this point, and we need to be able to improve our study by adding more participants. It's hard to get participants at the right stage for the study."

Women age 25 to 80 who have been diagnosed with breast cancer are eligible to participate in the program. They must have their physician's consent, have an ability to carry out normal daily activities, and have undergone or plan to undergo chemotherapy.

During a highly individualized program that lasts six months, participants are asked to contribute to the project as members of one of two groups—one group in which members maintain their usual level of physical activity and another that participates in a regular exercise program facilitated by personal trainers on the Penn State University Park campus. Exercise times and necessary meetings are tailored to each participant's schedule.

"Some of our participants would like more group activities, which we try to facilitate," Mastro said. "At the same time, we understand that people have different schedules and we want to make participating in this study convenient for them."

Blood samples from participants are taken at the start of their respective programs and periodically throughout the program. Those samples allow Mastro to track the level of a particular cell type, CD4+ T cells, in each participant throughout the program. Those cells help promote a healthy immune system and often are among the slowest to recover in cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

An earlier, unrelated research program by Mastro, funded by the U.S. Army, determined exercise increased the number of T cells in healthy women who exercise. That study was conducted to help the Army understand how activity and exercise affect women. Her knowledge of that study prompted Mastro's curiosity about the effect of exercise on women with breast cancer and whether exercising enough to increase aerobic capacity can help improve immune-system recovery from chemotherapy.

Her efforts have prompted a positive response from other researchers. In June, Mastro was invited to present a her work at the international "Era of Hope," a biennial breast-cancer research meeting sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Co-investigators with the program include: Nancy Williams, assistant professor of kinesiology at Penn State, who coordinates exercise training for participants in the study; Aaron Bleznak, surgeon at Centre Community Hospital in State College; Richard Dixon, oncologist at Centre Community Hospital; and Judy Underwood, cancer-treatment coordinator at Centre Community Hospital.

Sponsors for the research are: the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Affairs, and the General Clinical Research Center at Penn State.

CONTACT:

Andrea Mastro (814) 863-0152 / a36@psu.edu