Effects of physical exercise in patients with breast cancer:: Molecular, functional and clinical impact

• Autores: Celia García Chico
• Directores de la Tesis: Alejandro Santos-Lozano (dir. tes.)
• Lectura: En la Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes ( España ) en 2025
• Idioma: inglés
• Número de páginas: 103
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Efectos del ejercicio físico en pacientes con cáncer de mama: impacto molecular, funcional y clínico
• Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Anna Maria Campbell (presid.), Juan Martín Hernández (secret.), Itziar Pagola Aldazabal (voc.)
• Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Investigación en Actividad Física y Salud en Poblaciones Especiales por la Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes
• Materias:
  • Ciencias de la vida
    • Fisiología humana
      • Fisiología del ejercicio
• Enlaces
  • Tesis en acceso abierto en: aplicaciones.ciencia.gob.es
• Resumen

  • Breast cancer (BC) is the second most diagnosed cancer worldwide. Although the factors that promote tumor proliferation, designated as cancer hallmark, have already been defined, the specific mechanisms of BC etiology and progression, as well as the biomarkers that are enriched in the corresponding molecular pathways, are not yet fully understood. The first aim was to identify proteins and molecular pathways involved in BC, and to analyze their relationship with the established hallmarks and tumor-associated processes (Study I). The identification of biomarkers associated with the hallmarks of cancer will also allow the evaluation of the efficacy of different therapies, including exercise interventions. Despite the growing interest in the molecular benefits of exercise, the specific effects on the hallmarks of BC remain underexplored. Therefore, the second aim of the thesis was to summarize the effects of physical activity and exercise on BC hallmarks (Study II). The current continuum of cancer care provides two phases before diagnosis and four phases after diagnosis to structure physical activity research. Although the number of BC survivors (BCS) has increased, the experienced adverse health effects remain underexplored. Among these, breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a common complication. The third aim of the thesis was to summarize current evidence on the influence of physical exercise interventions in patients with or at risk of BCRL (Study III). Given the altered inflammatory and immunologic microenvironment in this population, it was hypothesized that exercise may have a beneficial effect. The final objectives of the thesis were to analyze the short- and long-term effects of concurrent training (Studies IV and V, respectively) on molecular, functional and clinical outcomes in BCS with or at risk of developing BCRL. The most important results of this work included the identification of proteins that could be differentially expressed in patients with BC and that are involved in various signaling pathways (Study I). Current evidence supports the benefits of physical exercise on different hallmarks of BC (Study II), and physical exercise could also improve muscle strength and upper-limb disability in BCS with BCRL or those at risk of developing it (Study III). Two sessions of concurrent training improved the inflammatory profile in this population (Study IV), whereas a 12-week concurrent training program improved muscle strength, pain and QoL without increasing inflammation. After the follow-up period, inflammation-related protein levels decreased, and row strength gains were maintained (Study V).