Physical Activity and Healthy Aging: Promoting Cardio-metabolic Capacity to Fight Chronic Inflammation and Improve Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients (PhActHealth Study)

PhActHealth is a multicenter randomized controlled trial enrolling women with newly diagnosed luminal B or triple-negative breast cancer (BC) who are candidates for neoadjuvant therapy. The study aims to investigate the effects of a preoperative, unsupervised exercise training program on exercise capacity, as well as on immune response, autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation, cardiovascular health, and tumor aggressiveness prior to surgical removal. Participants are randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. All patients receive lifestyle counseling, while those in the intervention group additionally follow a personalized aerobic and resistance exercise program throughout the neoadjuvant treatment period before surgery. The primary outcome is the improvement in exercise capacity. The secondary outcomes are tumor-specific and systemic responses to the intervention, evaluated by analyzing molecular, metabolic, and inflammatory markers, as well as clinical and functional parameters.