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Physical Activity and Breast Cancer: Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence and Biologic Mechanisms

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Clinical Cancer Prevention

Part of the book series: Recent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 188))

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed invasive malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer death in women globally. This review considers epidemiologic evidence regarding the association between physical activity and breast cancer risk. Across these studies there was a 25% average risk reduction among physically active women as compared to the least active women. The associations were strongest for recreational activity, for activity sustained over the lifetime or done after menopause, and for activity that is of moderate to vigorous intensity and performed regularly. There is also some evidence for a stronger effect of physical activity among postmenopausal women, women who are normal weight, have no family history of breast cancer, and are parous. It is likely that physical activity is associated with decreased breast cancer risk via multiple interrelated biologic pathways that may involve adiposity, sex hormones, insulin resistance, adipokines, and chronic inflammation. Future research should include prospective observational epidemiologic studies relating proposed biomarkers to breast cancer risk and also randomized controlled trials to examine how physical activity influences the proposed biomarkers. Exercise trials will provide more clarity regarding the appropriate type, dose, and timing of activity that are related to breast cancer risk reduction.

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality in most developed countries worldwide. While significant international research has examined risk factors for breast cancer, most identified risk factors are nonmodifiable. During the past 20 years, over 90 studies have been conducted worldwide that have examined some aspects of the association between physical activity and breast cancer risk reduction. The purpose of this chapter is to review both the epidemiologic evidence and hypothesized biologic mechanisms whereby physical activity may influence breast cancer risk.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Christine Friedenreich is supported by a Health Senior Scholar Award from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. The author wishes to thank Dr. Brigid Lynch and Heather Neilson for their assistance in the writing of this review and Qinggang Wang for the preparation of the figures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Population Health Research, Alberta Health Services-Cancer Care, 1331 29 St NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N2, Canada

    Christine M. Friedenreich

  2. Departments of Oncology and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Christine M. Friedenreich

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Correspondence to Christine M. Friedenreich .

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  1. Prävention (ZeTuP), Zentrum für Tumordiagnostik und, Rorschacherstr. 150, St. Gallen, 9006, Switzerland

    Hans-Jörg Senn

  2. Prävention (ZeTuP), Zentrum für Tumordiagnostik und, Rorschacherstr. 150, St. Gallen, 9006, Switzerland

    Florian Otto

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Friedenreich, C.M. (2010). Physical Activity and Breast Cancer: Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence and Biologic Mechanisms. In: Senn, HJ., Otto, F. (eds) Clinical Cancer Prevention. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 188. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10858-7_11

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