Paulo Morais

Paulo Morais · Articles and knowledge

Proceedings of the OncoFit – From sports lab to cancer clinic

Published by Paulo Morais ·

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (ChT) is indicated in several early breast cancer (BC) situations. Pathological complete response (PCR) is related to better outcomes. The percentage of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast samples is a prognostic biomarker for early-stage, specifically for triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs). In women with BC and receiv-ing neoadjuvant chemotherapy, exercise is an important prehabilitation non-pharmacological approach, although it is not yet known how exercise impacts oncological outcomes.

This exploratory study will include patients from the prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) MAMA_MOVE_ Gaia on Treatment (ISRCTN, ISRCTN32617901). In this trial, women with early BC undergoing anthracycline-contain- ing ChT were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to a SETP or to usual care, between November 2018 and January 2022. The authors included 65 patients. We retrospectively identified patients who did neoadjuvant ChT, to assess pathologic response and tumor immune microenvironment. The pathological response will be evaluated in the surgical piece so we can compare the PCR on both arms. The presence of TILs and the lymphocytic profile will be evaluated in the biopsy sample and in the surgical piece, in order to explore the possible influence of the STEP on the immune profile. Pathologic evaluation of TILs will follow the guidelines of The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group, assessing both stromal and intra-tumoral TILs. The authors estimate that data collection and anatomopathological evaluation, followed by data documentation will take about 6 months. Presently, the authors are elaborating the patient database and separating the pathological material. The RCT was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki Ethical Principles (1975) and it received approval by the Ethics Committee of the Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho (CHVNG/E; Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal) as well as the amendment to the protocol to include the pathologic evaluation in both arms.