Exercise potentially decreases doxorubicin-induced cardiac morbidity

In this study, juvenile mice received Dox, Dox + exercise (Exer), Dox then exercise or exercise during and after Dox.

Immediately after Dox therapy, mice that received Dox alone had decreased ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS). The deterioration continued over 12 weeks and was accompanied by the development of diastolic failure and fibrosis. These changed were not seen in mice treated with Dox + Exer. 

Acute Dox-induced cardiotoxicity was not seen in mice that received Dox + Exer.

Recovery of EF and FS was promoted in mice who exercised after Dox therapy. These mice had no functional or histologic evidence of Dox-induced damage 12 weeks post-therapy

For mice in the control group, mice that received Dox alone, and mic that received Dox + Exer, survival rates 100 days after myocardial infarction were 67%, 22%, and 56%.

Reference
Wang F, Chandra J, Kleinerman ES. Exercise intervention decreases acute and late doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Cancer Med. 2021;doi: 10.1002/cam4.4283. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34523825.