Exercise intervention may play a potential therapeutic role in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (Review)

The present study conducted an extensive review of the literature that describes the molecular pathogenesis of cancer and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), exploring physiological adaptation resulting from exercise training in the broader context of cancer and brain tumors, with a specific emphasis on GBM, aiming to discern the implications of exercise in improving the quality of life (QoL) of affecting patients. GBM is the predominant aggressive malignant primary brain tumor with a high mortality rate. GBM involves multiple pathways that can be targeted by exercise training. Exercise has shown its value in various other cancer types and offers a promising approach for GBM. Exercise training is regarded as a safe and feasible adjunctive treatment to improve the QoL of patients with brain tumors, including GBM. Nevertheless, further research is required in order to fully elucidate the mechanisms through which exercise affects cellular processes impacted by cancer and its treatments, with a specific focus on GBM. While exercise training guidelines have been established for cancer patients in general, there is currently a lack of specific guidelines tailored to patients with GBM. Clear guidelines are essential to assist clinicians in determining the most appropriate exercise type, intensity and frequency for patients to optimize their rehabilitation process.