Tumour cell response to acute aerobic exercise in breast cancer survivors: modulatory effects of exercise type and intensity (TCReX)

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.

The scientific objectives of the study are:

1. Examine the effects of exercise-conditioned serum collected during the acute aerobic exercise of three modalities on proliferation, morphology, clonogenicity, migration, and signaling of BC cells in vitro;
2. Examine the effects of acute exercise on serum levels of myokines known to exhibit ACE;
3. Determine whether and to what extent serum myokine levels can predict the physical performance in BC survivors and/or BC cell behavior in vitro;
4. Examine the molecular mechanisms associated with the effects of exercise-conditioned serum on BC cell behaviour in vitro.