Journal Article

Randomised controlled trial of intermittent vs continuous energy restriction during chemotherapy for early breast cancer

Mattson, Mark P, Howell, Sacha J, Graves, Lee, Williamson, Julie, Cooper, Grace, Adams, Judith, Greystoke Alastair, Lombardelli Cheryl, Howell, Anthony, Livingstone, Karen, Pegington, Mary, Harvie, Michelle, McMullen, Debbie, Sellers, Katharine, Cutler, Roy G, McDiarmid, Sarah, Foden Phil, Bundred Nigel

2022

Overview

BackgroundExcess adiposity at diagnosis and weight gain during chemotherapy is associated with tumour recurrence and chemotherapy toxicity. We assessed the efficacy of intermittent energy restriction (IER) vs continuous energy restriction (CER) for weight control and toxicity reduction during chemotherapy.MethodsOne hundred and seventy-two women were randomised to follow IER or CER throughout adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Primary endpoints were weight and body fat change. Secondary endpoints included chemotherapy toxicity, cardiovascular risk markers, and correlative markers of metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress.ResultsPrimary analyses showed non-significant reductions in weight (−1.1 (−2.4 to +0.2) kg, p = 0.11) and body fat (−1.0 (−2.1 to +0.1) kg, p = 0.086) in IER compared with CER. Predefined secondary analyses adjusted for body water showed significantly greater reductions in weight (−1.4 (−2.5 to −0.2) kg, p = 0.024) and body fat (−1.1 (−2.1 to −0.2) kg, p = 0.046) in IER compared with CER. Incidence of grade 3/4 toxicities were comparable overall (IER 31.0 vs CER 36.5%, p = 0.45) with a trend to fewer grade 3/4 toxicities with IER (18%) vs CER (31%) during cycles 4–6 of primarily taxane therapy (p = 0.063).ConclusionsIER is feasible during chemotherapy. The potential efficacy for weight control and reducing toxicity needs to be tested in future larger trials.Clinical trial registrationISRCTN04156504.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Adipose tissue / Body fat / Body water / Body weight gain / Breast cancer / Cardiovascular diseases / Chemotherapy / Clinical trials / Energy / Oxidative metabolism / Oxidative stress / Toxicity / Tumors