Low Impact Therapeutic Yoga Reduces Pro-inflammatory Cytokines In Cancer Survivors

Chronic inflammation can remain many years after the completion of cancer treatment and is associate with cancer recurrence. The elevations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-1b, have been targeted as having impact on cancer recurrence as well as many secondary effects, such as fatigue and sarcopenia. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine how a 16-week therapeutic yoga program (TYP) modulates the cytokine profile in a heterogenous cancer survivors. METHODS: Cancer survivors from the local community were recruited to participate in a 16-week virtually implemented yoga program. Eligible participants were above 18 years of age, clinically diagnosed with cancer who have access to a smart device. Participants were excluded from this study if they had any contraindications to exercise testing as detailed by the American College of Sports Medicine. Enrolled participated were asked to attend three, 75-minute sessions weekly for 16 weeks. Each session focused on developing breath and body awareness/control (pranayama), focused concentration, meditation, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and mobility (flexibility) training. Seventeen of the 29 cancer survivors that completed the study provided blood samples at baseline and end of study. Eight cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1b, IL-1ra, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α), three receptors (sIL-6R, sTNFRI, sTNFRII) and c-reactive protein (CRP) were quantified in circulating serum (EMD Millipore, Burlington, MA). Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated. Paired samples t-test was performed with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Participants were 59.6 ± 7.3 years old, mostly overweight/obese (56%) female (71%) breast cancer survivors (64.7%) of which 44% were Hispanic. Marked reductions were observed in all cytokines except IL-4, with significant changes found with IFNγ (p = 0.04), IL-1b (p = 0.02) and IL-1ra (p = 0.04). No significance change was observed in soluble cytokine receptors, CRP or BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Low intensity TYP led to significant reduction in biomarkers associated tumor recurrence in a heterogeneous sample of cancer survivors Funding for this project was provided by the Mays Cancer Center's P30 Cancer Center Support Grant from the National Cancer Institute (CA054174). Funding for the REDCap database was provided to the Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science (UL1-RR024982).