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Background Breast cancer ranks first in women, and is the second cause of death in this gender. In addition to genetics, the environment contributes to the development of the disease, although the factors involved are not well known. Among the latter is the influence of microorganisms and, therefore, attention is recently being paid to the mammary microbiota. We hypothesize that the risk of breast cancer could be associated with the composition and functionality of the mammary/gut microbiota, and that exposure to environmental contaminants (endocrine disruptors, EDCs) might contribute to alter these microbiota. Methods We describe a case-control clinical study that will be performed in women between 25 and 70 years of age. Cases will be women diagnosed and surgically intervened of breast cancer (stages I and II). Women with antecedents of cancer or advanced tumor stage (metastasis), or who have received antibiotic treatment within a period of 3 months prior to recruitment, or any neoadjuvant therapy, will be excluded. Controls will be women surgically intervened of breast augmentation or reduction. Women with oncological, gynecological or endocrine history, and those who have received antibiotic treatment within a period of 3 months prior to recruitment will also be excluded. Blood, urine, breast tissue and stool samples will be collected. Data regarding anthropometric, sociodemographic, reproductive history, tumor features and dietary habits will be gathered. Metabolomic studies will be carried out in stool and breast tissue samples. Metagenomic studies will also be performed in stool and breast tissue samples to ascertain the viral, fungal, bacterial and archaea populations of the microbiota. Quantitation of estrogens, estrogen metabolites and EDCs in samples of serum, urine and breast tissue will also be performed. Discussion This is the first time that the contribution of bacteria, archaea, viruses and fungi together with their alteration by environmental contaminants to the risk of breast cancer will be evaluated in the same study. Results obtained could contribute to elucidate risk factors, improve the prognosis, as well as to propose novel intervention studies in this disease. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03885648 , 03/25/2019. Retrospectively registered.

Patients receiving SG improved their health-related QoL and low back pain 6 months after the intervention, but this improvement was not so important for pressure pain thresholds in different body areas.

Objective Therapeutic exercise is already used to ameliorate some of the side effects of cancer treatment. Recent studies examined its preventive potential regarding treatment-related toxicity, which can increase the risk of functional decline and lead to disease recurrence and death. This trial will examine whether the ATOPE (Tailored Therapeutic Exercise and Recovery Strategies) program, performed before treatment (ATOPE-B), can mitigate the onset and extent of cardiotoxicity beyond that achieved when the program is followed during treatment (ATOPE-I) in recently diagnosed breast cancer patients. Methods The intervention has a preparatory phase plus 12 to 18 sessions of tailored, high-intensity exercise, and post-exercise recovery strategies. 120 women recently diagnosed with breast cancer, in risk of cardiotoxicity due to anticancer treatment awaiting surgery followed by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, will be randomised to either group. In a feasibility study, measurements related to recruitment rate, satisfaction with the program, adherence to them, the retention of subjects, safety, and adverse effects will be explored. In the main trial, the efficacy of these interventions will be examined. The major outcome will be cardiotoxicity, assessed echocardiographically via the left ventricular ejection fraction. Other clinical, physical, anthropometric outcomes, biological and hormonal variables, will be also assessed after diagnosis, after treatment, 1 year after treatment ends, and 3 years after treatment ends. Conclusion Given its potential effect on patient survival, the mitigation of cardiotoxicity is a priority, and physiotherapists have an important role in this mitigation. If the ATOPE-B intervention returns better cardioprotection results, it may be recommendable that patients recently diagnosed follow this program.

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