🎗️ Sport can help fight cancer, starting from the very first session

A single session of physical activity could favorably alter the body's internal environment in response to cancer cells. This discovery opens promising perspectives to complement conventional treatments.

Oncology research is increasingly exploring the therapeutic potential of exercise. Recent work conducted at Edith Cowan University focuses on the immediate biological effects of exertion, observed in patients who have overcome breast cancer. These effects could create a less favorable environment for tumor development.

The immediate impact of an exercise session

A study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment analyzed the blood response of breast cancer survivors. Participants performed either a strength training session or a high-intensity interval training session. Samples were taken before, immediately after, and thirty minutes after the effort.

Researchers measured a significant increase in myokines following physical activity. These proteins, secreted by contracting muscles, possess inhibitory properties on cancer cell proliferation. This muscular production constitutes a direct biological response to the effort exerted.

The elevation of these myokines was observed even after a single episode of exercise. This rapid reaction suggests a defense mechanism that can be activated in the short term. The body thus seems capable of generating an almost immediate protective response through movement.

The long-term benefits of regular practice

Regular physical activity also induces a profound transformation of body composition. It increases muscle mass while reducing fat mass. This change helps combat chronic inflammation.

Adipose tissue, particularly in excess, releases molecules that promote a persistent inflammatory state. This pro-inflammatory environment is recognized as a risk factor for tumor progression and recurrence. Exercise therefore acts on one of the fundamental mechanisms of the disease.

Weight loss achieved solely through a strict diet would not provide the same benefits. The preservation, or even increase, of muscle mass is essential. It is the muscle that produces beneficial myokines and improves overall metabolism.

To go further: What is a myokine?

Myokines are signaling proteins released by muscle fibers during contraction. They act as chemical messengers, traveling throughout the body via the bloodstream. Their discovery has made it possible to understand that a muscle is an endocrine organ, secreting hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Their main function is communication between muscles and other organs, such as the liver, brain, or adipose tissue. They regulate numerous metabolic and inflammatory processes. Their production is directly stimulated by physical activity, regardless of its intensity.

Among the most studied myokines is interleukin-6 (IL-6), which plays a role in immunity and metabolism. Unlike IL-6 produced during pathological inflammation, that secreted by the muscle during exercise has anti-inflammatory effects.