Relationships between T‐lymphocytes and physical function in adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Results from the HEALTH4CLL pilot study

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveExamine physical function and T‐cell phenotype in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) before and after a physical activity (PA) intervention.MethodsPhysical function measures and blood samples were collected from CLL patients (Rai stage 0–4, 50% receiving targeted therapy, N = 24) enrolled in a 16‐week intervention of at‐home aerobic and/or resistance exercise. Flow cytometry characterized T‐cells in cryopreserved peripheral blood cells. Wilcoxon signed‐rank test compared physical function and T‐cell phenotype at baseline and 16‐weeks; Kendall's Tau assessed associations between variables.ResultsGodin leisure‐time PA score increased from baseline to 16‐weeks (mean difference: 14.61, p < .01) and fatigue decreased (mean difference: 6.71, p < .001). At baseline, lower fatigue correlated with a lower proportion of CD8+ T‐cells (τ = 0.32, p = .03) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) inversely correlated with the percentage of PD‐1+CD8+ T‐cells (τ −0.31, p = .03). At 16‐weeks, CRF inversely correlated with the proportion of PD‐1+CD4+ T‐cells (τ −0.34, p = .02). Reduced fatigue at 16‐weeks correlated with an increased CD4:CD8 ratio (τ = 0.36, p = .02) and lower percentage of HLA‐DR+PD‐1+CD4+ T‐cells (τ = −0.37, p = .01).ConclusionsThis intervention increased leisure‐time PA and decreased fatigue in CLL patients. These changes correlated with an increased CD4:CD8 T‐cell ratio and reduced proportion of T‐cells subsets previously associated with poor outcomes in CLL patients.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02194387.