Effect of Combined Training on Quality of Life, Functional Capacity, Cardiovascular Function, and Body Composition in Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Androgen Suppression Therapy: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Prostate cancer is the most prevalent type among men in Brazil, after non-melanoma skin cancer. One of the main treatment approaches is androgen suppression therapy (AST), which, although effective in controlling tumor growth, leads to several adverse effects such as erectile dysfunction, fatigue, reduced muscle mass, increased body fat percentage, decreased functional capacity and muscle strength, as well as a higher risk of cardiovascular events due to the sharp decline in testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. These factors significantly impair patients' quality of life. Physical exercise has been shown to mitigate such effects; however, in Brazil, only one study has so far evaluated the impact of exercise in men undergoing AST.

Given this context, the aim of the present study is to assess the effect of supervised physical exercise on quality of life, functional capacity, cardiovascular parameters, handgrip strength, and physical activity levels in men with prostate cancer undergoing AST. A randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted, with patients allocated into an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG). Data collection and the exercise intervention will take place at the Rehabilitation Center of the Sports Center at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). The IG will participate in a supervised multicomponent exercise program including muscle strength, aerobic capacity, motor coordination, and flexibility, over 12 weeks, with 60-minute sessions three times per week.

Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention, covering quality of life (SF-36, EORTC QLQ-BR30, and EORTC QLQ-PR25 questionnaires), functional capacity (submaximal treadmill test, six-minute walk test, timed-up and go, 30-second sit-to-stand, and modified sit-and-reach), cardiovascular parameters (office and ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, flow-mediated dilation, arterial stiffness, and carotid intima-media thickness), body composition, and physical activity level. Adverse events will be recorded weekly. For statistical analysis, sample characterization variables will be examined using Student's t-test, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact test, while intervention outcomes will be analyzed using the generalized estimating equations (GEE) model, with significance set at p<0.05, both by intention-to-treat and per-protocol approaches.