Onco Move - Improvement of Psychophysical Fitness in Adult Cancer Survivors

The Onco Move Project is designed to assess the effects of a 16-week supervised group exercise multicomponent program on the psychophysical well-being of individuals undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment. The study will involve 70 participants aged between 18 and 55 years, representing a diverse sample with different cancer types. The participants will be randomly assigned to one of two arms: the experimental group, which will participate in the Onco Move exercise program, or the control group, which will not engage in the exercise intervention. The primary objective of the study is to investigate how regular participation in the Onco Move exercise program affects various aspects of the participants' physical and psychological health. These aspects include overall functional status, fitness levels, and quality of life. The study will assess the impact of the training on multiple parameters, such as psychological health (e.g., anxiety, depression, and stress), physical function or health-related fitness (e.g., muscular strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance and body composition), autonomy (e.g., ability to perform daily activities) and biomarkers associated with inflammation, muscle recovery, and overall metabolic function, as well as genetic markers, which will help evaluate individual variability in response to the intervention and provide insights into genetic influences on inflammation, metabolism, muscle adaptation, and cellular aging.

By examining these outcomes, the study aims to provide new insights into how structured physical exercise can benefit cancer patients during and after treatment. This information could serve as the foundation for developing guidelines for recommending specific exercise programs tailored to oncology patients' needs. A total of 70 participants will be recruited for the study. Participants will be carefully selected to include individuals between the ages of 18 and 55 who have undergone or are currently undergoing cancer treatment. They will represent a variety of cancer types to ensure that the findings are applicable across different patient populations. Prior to participation, baseline measurements will be conducted to assess their psychological, physiological, functional, and biochemical health status.After the baseline assessment, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two arm: 1) Experimental group: This group will participate in the Onco Move exercise program, which involves supervised group exercise sessions held three times per week. 2) Control group: Participants in the control group will not engage in the Onco Move program but will continue their usual activities/care and they will get physical activity recommendations. They will receive general wellness advice and physical activity recommendations but will not be prescribed any specific physical exercise training during the study period.

The Onco Move exercise program is specifically designed for cancer patients and will include a combination of aerobic, strength, flexibility, and coordination/balance exercises. The exercise training sessions will be adapted to participants' individual fitness levels and will progress in load/intensity throughout the 16 weeks. The program aims to: (1) Improve aerobic capacity and muscular strength; (2) Enhance flexibility, coordination/balance, and mobility; (3) Reduce fatigue and improve mood; (4) Promote a sense of empowerment and increase overall physical activity levels. Sessions will be held three times a week, with each session lasting approximately 60 minutes (volume parameter). The exercise program will be personalized and tailored to the needs and abilities of each participant, ensuring that they engage in safe and effective exercises that are suitable for their current level of function. All sessions will be supervised by certified fitness instructors who are trained to work with individuals recovering from cancer treatment.

The impact of the Onco Move program will be evaluated at four time points during the study: (1) At the baseline; (2) After 8 weeks of participation in the exercise program; (3) After 16 weeks, at the completion of the exercise program; and (4) Three months after the completion of the program, to assess the longer-term effects of the intervention. At each time point, participants will undergo a comprehensive evaluation, including psychological, physiological, and functional assessments, as well as biochemical testing to measure specific health markers. These time points will help determine the immediate and sustained effects of the fitness program on participants' well-being.The study will use a variety of outcome measures to assess the impact of the Onco Move program. These include: (1) Physical fitness tests: A series of tests designed to assess strength, balance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness, including the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB); (2) Psychological assessments as tools to assess anxiety, depression, stress, and quality of life, such as the Four-Item Patient Health Questionnaire For Anxiety And Depression (PHQ-4) and various scales measuring mood, sexual function, and general health-related quality of life; (3) Biochemical markers, blood samples will be analyzed to measure biomarkers such as IL-6, IL-15, Irisin, BDNF, SPARC, and decorin, which are associated with inflammation, muscle health, and overall physical recovery; (4) Genetic analyses will include polymorphisms located in the following genes: ACE, ACTN3, PPARGC1A, BDNF, VEGF, IL6, NOS3, HIF1A, TNF-α, mTOR pathway, telomeres, and telomerase; (5)Self-Reported Fitness: Participants' subjective assessments of their fitness will be recorded using tools such as the International Fitness Scale (IFIS).

The Onco Move project has the potential to make significant contributions to the field of cancer exercise research. By investigating the psychophysical effects of physical exercise training, the study will provide evidence-based insights into the benefits of structured physical exercise for cancer patients. These findings could lead to the development of guidelines for oncology professionals, helping them to recommend appropriate physical exercise during and after treatment. Furthermore, the study will help shape future exercise programs and improve quality of life for cancer survivors by promoting physical exercise as a central component of post-treatment recovery.The results of this study may also pave the way for health policy changes that encourage the integration of exercise interventions into standard cancer care practices, improving outcomes and empowering cancer survivors to take control of their physical and psychological health. By carefully assessing the effects of the Onco-Move program on various health parameters, the study aims to contribute valuable evidence that will guide the development of personalized and tailored physical exercise interventions for cancer patients. Ultimately, the project seeks to enhance the overall well-being of cancer patients and survivors, improve their quality of life, and provide a foundation for future exercise interventions in oncology care.