Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38285111›Full record

Trial reportBreast cancer research and treatment2024

Effects of physical exercise during adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer on long-term tested and perceived cognition: results of a pragmatic follow-up study.

Willeke R Naaktgeboren, Emmie W Koevoets, Martijn M Stuiver, Wim H van Harten, Neil K Aaronson, Elsken van der Wall, Miranda Velthuis, Gabe Sonke, Sanne B Schagen, Wim G Groen and 1 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialPragmatic Clinical Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

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  4. Methodology of analysis of cognitive impairment in longitudinal randomized clinical trials in oncology: a scoping review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Willeke R NaaktgeborenDivision of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Emmie W KoevoetsDivision of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Martijn M StuiverDivision of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Wim H van HartenDivision of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Neil K AaronsonDivision of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Elsken van der WallDepartment of Medical Oncology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Miranda VelthuisNetherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Gabe SonkeDepartment of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Sanne B SchagenDivision of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Wim G Groen *Department of Medicine for Older People, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Anne M May *Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. a.m.may@umcutrecht.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0643-3790

Funding

KWF Kankerbestrijding 10325 / 2016-1).KWF Kankerbestrijding this work was financially supported by the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF/Alpe
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeCancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) following chemotherapy is commonly reported in breast cancer survivors, even years after treatment. Data from preclinical studies suggest that exercise during chemotherapy may prevent or diminish cognitive problems; however, clinical data are scarce.

methodsThis is a pragmatic follow-up study of two original randomized trials, which compares breast cancer patients randomized to exercise during chemotherapy to non-exercise controls 8.5 years post-treatment. Cognitive outcomes include an online neuropsychological test battery and self-reported cognitive complaints. Cognitive performance was compared to normative data and expressed as age-adjusted z-scores.

resultsA total of 143 patients participated in the online cognitive testing. Overall, cognitive performance was mildly impaired on some, but not all, cognitive domains, with no significant differences between groups. Clinically relevant cognitive impairment was present in 25% to 40% of all participants, regardless of study group. We observed no statistically significant effect of exercise, or being physically active during chemotherapy, on long-term cognitive performance or self-reported cognition, except for the task reaction time, which favored the control group (β = -2.04, 95% confidence interval: -38.48; -2.38). We observed no significant association between self-reported higher physical activity levels during chemotherapy or at follow-up and better cognitive outcomes.

conclusionIn this pragmatic follow-up study, exercising and being overall more physically active during or after adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer was not associated with better tested or self-reported cognitive functioning, on average, 8.5 years after treatment. Future prospective studies are needed to document the complex relationship between exercise and CRCI in cancer survivors.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCognitionExerciseAdultAgedChemotherapy, AdjuvantCognitive DysfunctionExercise TherapyFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsBreast cancerCognitionExercisePhysical activity

Identifiers

PMID38285111
PMCPMC11062992

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.