Study Identifies Biological Responses to Brief Intense Exercise
An international research team has reported that short bursts of intense cycling can induce biological changes in the body, which may be relevant to cancer mitigation. A study found that 10 minutes of intense cycling can release molecules into the blood that may influence cancer-related processes.
These molecules have been observed to accelerate DNA repair mechanisms and reduce the activity of genes associated with cancer growth. This biological shift in blood chemistry, triggered by the exercise, is hypothesized to potentially slow the growth and spread of certain cancers, specifically explored in the context of colon cancer in this research.
Methodology
The study involved 30 overweight or obese volunteers, aged 50-78 years, as carrying excess weight is linked to an elevated cancer risk. Participants performed an intense cycling exercise on a stationary bike for approximately 10 minutes following a brief warm-up.
Blood serum samples were collected from participants both before and after the exercise session. Researchers analyzed these samples to identify changes in their molecular composition. Subsequently, these collected serum samples were applied to colon cancer cells grown in a laboratory setting. This application aimed to observe any potential anti-cancer effects exerted by the exercise-modified serum.
Findings and Expert Commentary
Observations indicated that the post-exercise blood serum led to potential anti-cancer effects on the lab-grown colon cancer cells. While previous research has linked regular exercise to slowing colon cancer progression and reducing recurrence post-surgery, this study details some of the specific biological pathways involved in these effects.
Sam Orange, a clinical exercise physiologist from Newcastle University in the UK, noted that exercise influences thousands of genes in cancer cells via signals transmitted through the bloodstream. Orange indicated that these insights could pave the way for developing strategies that mimic or enhance the biological effects of exercise, potentially improving cancer treatment outcomes.
Limitations and Future Directions
It is important to note the study's limitations. The observed effects of the blood serum were tested on lab-grown cancer cells rather than directly in human subjects. Additionally, the research focused solely on the short-term effects of a single exercise session.
Despite these limitations, the findings suggest that brief, vigorous exercise, or pharmacological interventions designed to replicate its physiological effects, could represent a potential strategy for slowing colon cancer progression. Colon cancer is a significant health concern, with over 100,000 new cases and more than 50,000 deaths annually in the United States, making it the second most common cause of cancer death in the country.
Orange also suggested that future research based on these insights might lead to new therapies that emulate the beneficial effects of exercise on cellular DNA repair and energy metabolism.
The research findings have been published in the International Journal of Cancer.