Exercise Shown to Directly Impact Cancer Cell Growth in New Study,Bolstering Calls for Integrated Treatment
Boston,MA – A groundbreaking study published this week in Breast cancer Research and Treatment reveals that both resistance training and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) trigger a surge in beneficial proteins called myokines,demonstrably slowing the growth of cancer cells – even those unresponsive to hormonal therapies.The research, led by Dr. Bethany Bettariga at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, adds compelling evidence to the growing movement advocating for exercise as a standard component of cancer care.
For years, clinicians have recognized the benefits of exercise for cancer patients, primarily focusing on improved quality of life and mitigation of treatment side effects. This study, however, moves beyond those benefits, suggesting a direct biological mechanism by which exercise can actively combat cancer progression.How Exercise Fights Back: The Myokine Connection
Skeletal muscle, long understood to be an endocrine organ, releases myokines into the bloodstream during physical activity. These proteins were initially known for their roles in growth and fat metabolism, but recent research has highlighted their potent anti-inflammatory properties. Preclinical studies, and some experimental work, have indicated that myokines can suppress tumor growth in various cancers, including breast cancer. However, until now, it remained unclear weather these effects translated to human cancer survivors.
Dr. Bettariga and her team sought to answer this question by analyzing blood samples from participants before, promptly after, and 30 minutes after engaging in either resistance training or HIIT. The resistance training protocol included exercises like chest presses, seated rows, shoulder presses, lat pulldowns, leg presses, leg extensions, leg curls, and lunges. The HIIT group utilized stationary cycles, treadmills, rowers, and cross-trainers.
The results were striking: both exercise types led to a short-term increase in three specific myokines – decorin,interleukin-6 (IL-6),and SPARC. Crucially, laboratory tests demonstrated that these myokines directly inhibited the growth of triple-negative breast cancer cells.
Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive subtype lacking common hormone receptors (estrogen,progesterone,and HER2),making it less responsive to conventional hormonal therapies. The fact that exercise-induced myokines impacted these cells is particularly critically important, suggesting a novel therapeutic avenue.
Beyond Breast Cancer: A Growing Body of Evidence
This study builds upon a growing body of research highlighting the anti-cancer potential of myokines. A 2022 review in Molecular biology Reports (Zhang et al.) detailed the complex signaling pathways through which myokines influence cancer cell behavior. Further research, published in journal of Skeletal Muscle Research (2024) and Frontiers in Oncology (2022), continues to explore these mechanisms.
“Our findings demonstrate that both resistance training and high-intensity interval training elicit acute changes in circulating myokines and reduced cancer cell growth, which may contribute to proposed biological pathways involved in cancer control,” Dr. Bettariga and her colleagues conclude. “However, further research is needed to determine the long-term relevance of these responses for disease recurrence in breast cancer survivors.”
The Future of Cancer Treatment: Exercise as Medicine
While the study focused on breast cancer survivors, the implications extend far beyond. The researchers emphasize the need for larger, long-term studies to determine the optimal exercise prescriptions – type, intensity, duration – for maximizing myokine production and minimizing cancer recurrence.
The findings strongly support the call to integrate exercise as a standard component of cancer treatment protocols, alongside traditional therapies like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. This shift in outlook could empower patients to actively participate in their own recovery and perhaps improve long-term outcomes.
study Details:
Published: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment (DOI: 10.1007/s10549-025-07772-w)
Lead Researcher: Dr. bethany Bettariga, university of Massachusetts Amherst
Myokines Studied: Decorin, IL-6, SPARC
Exercise Protocols: Resistance Training & High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
* Cancer Type: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
