A Single Bout of Exercise Can Boost Cancer-Fighting Proteins in Breast Cancer Survivors

Recent research has shown that a 45-minute session of either resistance training or high-intensity interval training can significantly increase the levels of cancer-fighting proteins in the bloodstream of breast cancer survivors. This surge of messenger proteins, known as myokines, has been found to suppress the growth of tumors by up to 30 percent when introduced to breast cancer samples in the lab.

Exercise-induced Myokines Show Promise in Cancer Treatment

Lead author and exercise researcher Francesco Bettariga from Edith Cowan University in Australia emphasizes the significance of these findings, stating that both types of exercise produce anti-cancer myokines that could be beneficial in the treatment of cancer. The study highlights the potential of incorporating exercise as a standard care protocol for cancer patients.

Understanding the Impact of Exercise on Myokines

The study monitored the levels of myokines in participants before, immediately after, and 30 minutes post-exercise. Both resistance training and high-intensity interval training were found to increase the levels of decorin, IL-6, and SPARC myokines in the bloodstream, showcasing the potential of exercise-induced myokines in cancer treatment.

Skeletal muscle secretes myokines in response to exercise, which not only stimulate growth and burn fat but also exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies have shown the anti-tumor effects of myokines in different cancers, including breast cancer. This study confirms the efficacy of myokines in impacting cancer cells, even in hormone receptor-negative breast cancer.

Promising Future for Myokine Therapy

The findings of this study contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting the potential of myokines in cancer treatment. Researchers suggest that incorporating resistance training and high-intensity interval training into standard care protocols could help reduce cancer cell growth; however, further research is needed to determine the long-term implications of these responses in breast cancer survivors.

Published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, this study provides valuable insights into the role of exercise-induced myokines in cancer therapy.