Abstract
This research aimed to investigate the effects of different exercise modes on myokine expression and cancer cell suppression in survivors of breast cancer. Exercise offers a wide array of health-related benefits before, during, and after breast cancer treatments. In addition, exercise is associated with a ~40% reduced risk of mortality. To further examine this association, this research explored various components of physical fitness, such as muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and their association with reduced cancer mortality. However, the underlying mechanisms linking exercise to reduced risk of mortality are not fully understood. Thus, this work examined, through literature reviews and clinical trials, both acute and chronic exercise-induced changes in cancer cells, myokine responses, and inflammatory biomarkers in survivors of breast cancer, providing insights into the mechanisms and potential modulators of these anti-cancer effects of exercise.
It was found that increased physical fitness levels, including muscle strength and CRF, were associated with a reduced risk of cancer mortality. The potential of exercise-induced myokines to inhibit cancer cell growth was explored, revealing suppressive effects. Acute exercise was shown to suppress cancer cell growth in vitro by stimulating myokine responses, while chronic exercise programs create a less favourable environment for tumorigenesis, by modulating changes in body composition and reducing inflammatory biomarkers. However, the role of exercise prescription (e.g., mode) was yet to be determined, highlighting the need for future studies.
In this regard, a clinical trial was designed to investigate the effects of distinct and independent exercise modes (i.e., resistance training [RT] vs high intensity interval training [HIIT]) on myokine expression and cancer cell suppression in survivors of breast cancer. We observed that a single bout of exercise (i.e., acute) had cancer-suppressive effects and stimulated myokine expression, regardless of exercise mode. Regarding chronic exercise programs, there were increases in resting myokine levels as well as inhibitory effects on cancer cells regardless of the exercise type (i.e., RT vs HIIT). Such effects appeared to be mediated by changes in body composition, supporting previously hypothesized mechanisms. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the mechanisms linking exercise to reduced cancer mortality, highlighting exercise as an effective treatment option with anti-cancer effects that can lower the risk of cancer recurrence and mortality in survivors of breast cancer.
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