Table 3. Results of the included studies with participants that completed treatment (survivors).
First Author, Year Cancer Intervention Sample size (age, years) Treatment Collection Methods and Endpoints Outcomes
Within-groups Between-groups
Na, Y et al., (2000) Stomach cancer (survivors)

2 weeks

G1: 30min; active ROM exercise, pelvic tilting exercise, and isometric quadriceps-setting exercise while in bed, 3x/day or when ambulatory, supervised aerobic activity using arm and bicycle ergometers, 2x/day, 5x/wk.

G2: Usual Care

N: 35

G1: 17 (57.8y)

G2: 18 (52.2y)

 		Treatment completed (underwent surgery) Time points:

Postoperative day (POD) 1 at 10 AM

POD 7 at 10 AM

POD 14 at 10 AM
Collection methods:

Ficoll-Hypaque gradients

Chromium release

 Cytotoxicity assay		 Mean NKCA:
G1 - Pre: 16.2%; Mid: 14.6%; Post: 27.9%;
G2 - Pre: 19.7%; Mid: 17.9%; Post: 13.3%;		 Mean NKCA:
Pre: Ø (p > 0.05);
Mid: Ø (p > 0.05);

Post: G1 > G2 (p < 0.05);
Liu, J., et al. (2015) Non-small cell lung cancer (survivors) 16 weeks

G1: 60 min, 3x/wk, Tai Chi exercise

G2: Usual care

 		N: 27

G1: 14 (8M and 6F) (62.6y)

G2: 13 (7M and 6F) (60.5y)

 		Treatment completed (underwent surgery) Time points:

Baseline

End of the intervention
Collection methods:

Density gradient centrifugation

MTT cell proliferation kit

 Flow cytometric analysis		 PBMC proliferative capacity 0.5 × (10^6) cell density –
G1 - Pre: 0.70 ± 0.28; Post: 0.92 ± 0.24; p < 0.05
G2 - Pre: 0.89 ± 0.26; Post: 0.99 ± 0.25; p = 0.284

PBMC proliferative capacity 1 × (10^6) cell density –
G1 - Pre: 1.21 ± 0.23; Post: 1.66 ± 0.37; p < 0.001
G2 - Pre: 1.33 ± 0.26; Post: 1.39 ± 0.18; p = 0.537)

PBMC cytolytic/oncolytic activity against lung cancer cells A549 -
50:1 E:T Ratio: G1 - Pre: 1.04 ± 0.19; Post: 0.51 ± 0.15; p < 0.001
G2 - Pre: 1.04 ± 0.33; Post: 0.99 ± 0.25;
25:1 E:T Ratio: G1 - Pre: 0.85 ± 0.16; Post: 0.51 ± 0.13; p < 0.001
G2 - Pre: 0.85 ± 0.39 ; Post: 0.76 ± 0.22;
12.5:1 E:T Ratio: G1 - Pre: 0.53 ± 0.15; Post: 0.52 ± 0.20;
G2 - Pre: 0.66 ± 0.20; Post: 0.63 ± 0.20;		 PBMC proliferation capacity: Ø
Cytotoxicity of PBMCs at 25:1 and 50:1 E:T cell ratio: G1 > G2 (p < 0.05)

Percentage of NK cells:
G1 - Pre: 22.66 ± 8.23; Post: 27.94 ± 10.3; G2 - Pre: 20.49 ± 6.82; Post: 20.17 ± 7.35; p < 0.05

NKT:
G1 - Pre: 3.58 ± 2.97; Post: 3.83 ± 3.03; G2 - Pre: 3.89 ± 2.59; Post: 2.87 ± 1.71; p < 0.05

DC11c:
G1 - Pre: 2.37 ± 1; Post: 3.09 ± 1.57; G2 - Pre: 1.63 ± 0.80; Post: 1.47 ± 0.61; p < 0.01
Wang, R. et al. (2013) Non-small cell lung cancer (survivors) 16 weeks
G1: 60 min, 3x/wk guided
Tai Chi
exercise.
G2: Usual care		 N: 27

G1: 13 (7 M and 6 W) (63.1y)
G2: 14 (8 M and 6 W) (59.3y)		 Treatment completed (underwent surgery) Time points:
Baseline
End of the intervention

Collection
methods:
Flow cytometry		 T1/T2 – G1 - Pre: 1.90 ± 0.63; Post: 2.06 ± 0.62; p = 0.204; G2 - Pre: 1.98 ± 0.38; Post: 1.64 ± 0.46; p = 0.002
T1 – G1 - Pre: 42.53 ± 11.07; Post: 40.58 ± 13.16; p = 0.470; G2 - Pre: 37.90 ± 11.99; Post: 34.43 ± 9.49; p = 0.048
T2 – G1 - Pre: 23.95 ± 8.80; Post: 20.61 ± 7.13; p = 0.037; G2 - Pre: 19.08 ± 6.45; Post: 21.69 ± 6.41; p = 0.005
Tc1/Tc2 – G1 - Pre: 1.20 ± 0.27; Post: 1.31 ± 0.20; p = 0.221; G2 - Pre: 1.35 ± 0.23; Post: 1.08 ± 0.17; p = 0.000
Tc1 –G1 - Pre: 25.90 ± 9.31; Post: 24.4 ± 8.63; p = 0.455
G2 - Pre: 24.20 ± 10.43; Post: 20.74 ± 7.74; p = 0.008
Tc2 –G1 - Pre: 22.41 ± 8.94; Post: 18.82 ± 6.87;
p = 0.036; G2 - Pre: 17.65 ± 6.10; Post: 19.13 ± 5.78;
p = 0.010
TH1/TH2 –G1 - Pre: 11.76 ± 6.11; Post: 10.12 ± 5.85;
p = 0.295; G2 - Pre: 10.26 ± 5.16; Post: 5.73 ± 4.46;
p = 0.030
TH1 – G1 - Pre: 16.63 ± 7.37; Post: 16.18 ± 8.69;
p = 0.750; G2 - Pre: 13.70 ± 3.57; Post: 13.69 ± 4.55;
p = 0.989
TH2 – G1 - Pre: 1.55 ± 0.47; Post: 1.79 ± 0.89; p = 0.284; G2 - Pre: 1.61 ± 0.75; Post: 2.92 ± 1.26; p = 0.010		 Not reported
Nieman, (1995) Breast
(survivors)		 8 weeks
G1: 60 min; 3x/wk; resistance training: 2 sets of 12 reps; aerobic training: 75% HRmax, walking on an indoor track for 30 min a session;
G2: Usual care		 N: 12

G1: 6 (60.8y)
G2: 6 (51.2y)		 Treatment completed (underwent surgery, CTx, and/or radiation treatment within the previous four years) Time points:
Baseline
End of the
intervention

Collection methods:
Coulter STKS
instrument		 Not reported NKCA and concentrations of circulating immune cells: Ø
Total leukocytes – G1 - Pre: 5.7 ± 0.3; Post: 4.9 ± 0.4; G2 - Pre: 5.9 ± 0.9; Post: 6.1 ± 0.9; p = 0.07
Neutrophils – G1 - Pre: 3.7 ± 0.3; Post: 3.0 ± 0.4; G2 - Pre: 3.8 ± 0.7; Post: 3.9 ± 0.8; p = 0.10
Lymphocytes – G1 - Pre: 1.4 ± 0.2; Post: 1.1 ± 0.2; G2 - Pre: 1.4 ± 0.2; Post: 1.6 ± 0.3; p = 0.19
T cells – G1 - Pre: 0.9 ± 0.1; Post: 0.9 ± 0.1; G2 - Pre: 1.0 ± 0.2; Post: 1.2 ± 0.2; p = 0.14
NK cells –G1 - Pre: 0.3 ± 0.1; Post: 0.3 ± 0.1; G2 - Pre: 0.2 ± 0.1; Post: 0.2 ± 0.1; p = 0.99
Hagstrom, et al. (2016) Breast
(survivors)		 16-week
G1: 60 min; 3x/wk; resistance training: 3 sets of 8-10 reps at 8RM/80% of the 1RM;
G2: Usual care		 N: 39 (51.9y)
G1: 20 (52.7y)
G2: 19 (51.2y)		 Treatment completed (underwent surgery, radiotherapy,
and/or CTx)		 Time points:
Baseline
End of the intervention
Collection
methods:
Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)
Multiparametric flow cytometry		 Not reported NK (%): G1 - Pre: 10.4 ± 4.9; Post: -1.0 ± 3.3; G2 - Pre: 9.5 ± 6.2; Post: 1.1 ± 3.7; p = 0.94
Expression of TNF-α on their NK cells: G1 - Pre: 13.8 ± 4.7; Post: -1.4 ± 5.1; G2 - Pre: 13.5 ± 4.0; Post: 4.3 ± 6.2; p = 0.005
NKT (%): G1 - Pre: 6.9 ± 5.1; Post: -1.5 ± 4.4; G2 - Pre: 5.5 ± 3.6; Post: -0.1 ± 3.5; p = 0.55
Expression of TNF-α on their NKT cells: G1 - Pre: 9.9 ± 5.9; Post: -3.0 ± 5.0; G2 - Pre: 13.6 ± 7.0; Post: 0.1 ± 8.5; p = 0.038
Fairey et al. (2005) Breast
(survivors)		 15-weeks
G1: 3x/wk; weeks 1-3: 15 min; increase 5 min every 3 wk; weeks 13-15: 35 min; recumbent or upright cycle ergometers; ~70–75% of peak oxygen consumption.
G2: Usual care		 N: 52 (59y)
G1: 24 (59y)
G2: 28 (58y)		 Treatment completed (underwent surgery, radiotherapy, and/or
CTx with or without current tamoxifen or anastrozole therapy
use)		 Time points:
Baseline
15 weeks
Collection methods:
Hemocytometer
Coulter STKS instrument
Flow cytometry
Immunofluorescence assay
ELISA kits		 Not reported NK cell cytotoxic activity
3.125:1 effector-to-target ratio: G1 - Pre: 7.2 ± 5.1; Post: 12.4 ± 6.6; G2 - Pre: 5.8 ± 4.5; Post: 5.7 ± 4.2; p < 0.0016.25:1 effector-to-target ratio: G1 - Pre: 21.7 ± 9.0; Post: 27.7 ± 10.1; G2 - Pre: 18.9 ± 9.4; Post: 19.8 ± 9.2; p = 0.022
12.5:1 effector-to-target ratio: G1 - Pre: 36.2 ± 10.6; Post: 41.2 ± 8.4; G2 - Pre: 32.2 ± 10.1; Post: 33.8 ± 10.7; p = 0.041

25:1 effector-to-target ratio: G1 - Pre: 44.2 ± 12.8; Post: 49.8 ± 8.3; G2 - Pre: 45.3 ± 12.1; Post: 44.0 ± 11.3; p = 0.024

50:1 effector-to-target ratio: G1 - Pre: 55.5 ± 12.1; Post: 61.4 ± 9.8; G2 - Pre: 58.0 ± 12.9; Post: 56.4 ± 10.5; p = 0.039
Total lytic units – G1 - Pre: 11.98 ± 6.76; Post: 8.60 ± 3.40; G2 - Pre: 12.72 ± 8.19; Post: 11.68 ± 6.00; p = 0.035
Lee, K-J., et al. (2022) Breast Cancer (survivors) 12 weeks, 2–3x/wk
G1: 50 min; warm-up (walking and stretching, 10 min), main exercise (8 exercises; week 1: 16 reps, 3 set, 1RM 40%; week 2: 12 rep, 4 set, 1 RM 60%; week 3-12: 8rep, 4 set, 1RM 80%; 30 min), and cool-down (stretching, 10 min).
G2: Activities of daily living		 N: 30
G1: 15 (54.7y)
G2: 15 (55.4y)		 Treatment completed (underwent surgery, radiation, and CTx) Time points:
Baseline
End of intervention
Collection methods:
Vacutainer tube
NK Vue kit
Turbidimetric immunoassay using a Cobas 8000 C702
Artificially activated using a ELx808 reader
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay		 NKCA: G1 ↑
G1 - Pre: 773.0 ± 668.6; Post: 1092.7 ± 816.2; p =
G2 - Pre: 809.4 ± 784.6; Post: 801.3 ± 786.3; p =
Difference between time points, a significant difference was found in NKCA(F = 6.815, p = 0.016)		 NKCA (F = 0.180, p = 0.657)
Lee, J-K., et al., (2022) Ovarian Cancer (survivors) 12 wks

G1: 6x/wk; warm-up (10 min), scheduled workout (Aerobic exercise - 3x/wk, walking or running at 40–70% VO2peak, 50-35min; Resistance exercise – 3x/wk, weight machines, 12RM-6RM x 3 sets, 30-40min)

G2: Usual Care		 N: 27 (51.07y)

G1: 12 (51.67y)
G2: 15 (50.60y)		 Treatment completed (underwent surgery, radiation therapy, or CTx) Time points:
Baseline
End of intervention

Collection methods:
Automated differential blood cell counts
Fluorescence- activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis
EDTA-anticoagulant blood samples for automated leucocyte differential tests
Flow cytometry
Antibody staining		 Leucocytes: G1 - Pre: 4.74 ± 0.74 x 102; Post: 5.69 ± 0.85 x 102; p = 0.031; G2 - Pre: 4.68 ± 0.71 x 102; Post: 4.43 ± 0.59 x 102; p = 0.131
Neutrophil percentage for leucocytes:
G1 - Pre: 49.77 ± 5.23; Post: 57.48 ± 7.28; p = 0.006
G2 - Pre: 47.33 ± 4.57; Post: 43.72 ± 2.58; p = 0.020
Lymphocyte percentage for leucocytes:
G1 - Pre: 39.76 ± 3.59; Post: 50.08 ± 5.91; p = 0.004
G2 - Pre: 38.61 ± 6.69; Post: 35.03 ± 4.07; p = 0.044
Lymphocytes:
G1 - Pre: 15.00 ± 2.26 x 102; Post: 20.42 ± 2.11 x 102;
p = 0.003; G2 - Pre: 15.13 ± 3.36 x 102; Post: 13.13 ± 2.67 x 102; p = 0.152
NK cell percentage for lymphocytes:
G1 - Pre: 8.65 ± 2.09; Post: 12.85 ± 3.44; p = 0.005
G2 - Pre: 7.99 ± 2.41; Post: 6.55 ± 2.05; p = 0.348
NKT cell percentage for lymphocytes:
G1 - Pre: 3.92 ± 1.82; Post: 5.46 ± 2.27; p = 0.059
G2 - Pre: 4.11 ± 2.64; Post: 3.03 ± 1.92; p = 0.093
Total NK cells:
G1 - Pre: 133.58 ± 34.10; Post: 193.42 ± 70.80; p = 0.019; G2 - Pre: 133.10 ± 28.65; Post: 103.10 ± 47.74; p = 0.023
NKG2D+ NK: G1 - Pre: 54.86 ± 11.40; Post: 66.72 ± 14.23; p = 0.010; G2 - Pre: 55.17 ± 12.06; Post: 46.36 ± 16.79; p = 0.073
KIR2DL3+NK:
G1 - Pre: 34.96 ± 12.55; Post: 24.18 ± 9.30; p = 0.023
G2 - Pre: 34.35 ± 6.68; Post: 41.68 ± 5.35; p = 0.001
Cytotoxicity:
G1 - Pre: 2.98 ± 1.67; Post: 6.08 ± 2.49; p = 0.008
G2 - Pre: 2.70 ± 2.11; Post: 1.85 ± 1.17; p = 0.006		 Leucocytes – G1 > G2 (p = 0.001)

Neutrophil percentage for leucocytes– G1 > G2 (p = 0.001)

Lymphocyte percentage for leucocytes - G1 > G2 (p = 0.001)

Lymphocytes – G1 > G2 (p = 0.001)

NK cell percentage for lymphocytes – G1 > G2 (p = 0.001)

NKT cell percentage for lymphocytes– G1 > G2 (p = 0.003)

Total NK cells - G1 > G2 (p = 0.001)



NKG2D + NK - G1 > G2 (p = 0.002)

KIR2DL3+NK - G1 > G2 (p = 0.001)

Cytotoxicity - G1 > G2 (p = 0.001)
NK cells, Natural killer cells; PBMCs, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Th1/Th2 ratio, CD3+ T lymphocyte subset helper cell type 1/CD3+ T lymphocyte subset helper cell type 2; NSCLC, non-small cells lung cancer; CTx, chemotherapy; TCR, T-cell receptor; RCT, randomized controlled trial.