Online home-based physical activity counteracts changes of redox-status biomarkers and fitness profile during treatment programs in post-surgery female breast cancer patients

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in women. Oxidative stress may contribute to cancer aetiology through several mechanisms. A large body of evidence indicates that physical activity (PA) has positive effects on different aspects of BC evolution, including the mitigation of negative effects induced by medical treatment. With the aim to verify the capacity of PA to counteract the negative effects of BC treatment on systemic redox-homeostasis in post-surgery female BC patients, we have examined the modulation of plasmatic markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Moreover, to assess exercise-induced modulatory effects, the gene expression of heat shock proteins 70 and 27 (HSP70 and HSP27), superoxide dismutase 1 and 2 (SOD1 and SOD2), and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was analyzed. Finally, we evaluated the impact on physical fitness and mental well-being by measuring functional parameters, health-related quality of life (QoL), fatigue, body mass index, and body composition. Results highlight that a specific, home-based PA program was effective in improving functional and anthropometric parameters, and in activating a cellular response, which impacts several signaling pathways/biological activities involved in tumor cell growth, metastasis, inflammation, and also on distress symptoms known to affect QoL.