Tumour Cell Response to Acute Aerobic Exercise in Breast Cancer Survivors: Modulatory Effects of Exercise Type and Intensity

Riga Stradins University40 enrolled

Overview

Cancer has emerged as a prominent cause of mortality in the 21st century, with breast cancer (BC) being the most diagnosed malignancy. Multidisciplinary cancer management has improved survival chances, but side effects and long-term consequences of treatments have significant implications for cancer survivors' health-related quality of life. Exercise is increasingly considered and used in cancer treatment and follow-up. However, studies demonstrating the biological mechanisms underlying the anticarcinogenic effects (ACE) of exercise are insufficient to justify the most appropriate physical activity for different clinical scenarios. Achieving scientific excellence in understanding the ACE of exercise in cancer management is critical to optimize treatment and enhance patients' quality of life.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Acute Exercise Breast Cancer Cell Lines Breast Cancer Survivors Healthy Women

Interventions

High intensity continuous exerciseOTHER

30 minutes of continuous exercise at 75% of VO2max, additionally 15 minutes of warm-up to reach specific workload.

Moderate intensity continuous exerciseOTHER

30 minutes of continuous exercise at 45% of VO2max, additionally 15 minutes of warm-up to reach specific workload.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 35 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria (intervention group): * Reproductive age (premenopausal); * Diagnosis of Stage II-III Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) (negative for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)); * Timeframe of 3 to 9 months after completion of surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or immunotherapy; * Physician-certified (cardiologist) physical fitness for exercise testing, supported by echocardiography (ECHO). Inclusion Criteria (control group): * Reproductive age (premenopausal); * No current or prior diagnosis of any type of cancer; * Matched by age, body constitution, and physical fitness to the breast cancer participant group. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy; * Autoimmune diseases (e.g., thyroiditis, inflammatory bowel disease, atopic dermatitis, etc.); * Endocrine disorders (e.g., metabolic syndrome, diabetes); * Cardiovascular diseases; * Diagnosis of any other type of oncological disease; * Any condition for which physical activity is contraindicated (e.g., asthma, COPD, spinal disc herniation, severe iron deficiency anemia).

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Inhibition of Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation

The inhibitory effect of exercise-conditioned serum (ECS) on the proliferation of breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, HCC1937, HCC1143, and SK-BR-3). Proliferation is measured as the percentage of viable cells after 24 hours of exposure to serum collected during exercise compared to baseline (pre-exercise) serum samples, using LIVE/DEAD fluorescence microscopy and FM CellHealth assays.

Time frame: 24 hours following cell exposure to serum collected at baseline (5 minutes pre-exercise) and immediately post-exercise (final minute of exercise).

Changes in Serum Myokine Concentrations

Measurement of serum levels of six specific myokines (BDNF, SPARC, Oncostatin M, IL-6, FGF-21, and Decorin) known to exhibit anticarcinogenic effects. Concentrations will be determined using ELISA or xMAP technology.

Time frame: Blood samples were collected 5 minutes pre-exercise (baseline), 15, 30, and 45 minutes (final minute of exercise) at Day 8 (Visit 2) and Day 15 (Visit 3).

Secondary Outcomes

Correlation Between Body Composition and Myokine Response

Assessment of how body composition parameters - specifically fat mass, lean soft tissue mass, visceral fat, measured via Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) - correlate with the magnitude of exercise-induced myokine fluctuations.

Time frame: Day 1 (Visit 1): Baseline measurements (measured once during the initial screening). All measures were performed in the morning, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., after overnight fasting.