Resistance training and HIIT may reduce cancer cell growth in breast cancer survivors, study finds
Single workout session boosts anti-cancer myokines and could slow tumor growth, researchers say.
A new study from Edith Cowan University in Australia finds that a single session of resistance training or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) could slow cancer cell growth in breast cancer survivors. Published in Springer Nature, the randomized trial assigned 32 survivors to a one-off bout of either resistance training or HIIT and then assessed cancer cell activity in a laboratory setting.
Blood samples were collected before and after exercise and analyzed for signals of cancer cell growth in a controlled lab environment. Researchers reported that both exercise modalities increased anti-cancer myokines and significantly reduced cancer cell growth in the lab, with estimates of about a 20% to 30% reduction in growth compared with pre-exercise levels. The effects appeared to be similar for resistance training and HIIT, though they may involve different myokines.
'This highlights the importance of exercise as a treatment with promising anti-cancer effects,' said study co-author Rob Newton, Ph.D., professor of exercise medicine at Edith Cowan University. In an interview with Fox News Digital, he noted that 'for people living with or after cancer, each exercise session acts like a ‘dose’ of cancer-suppressing medicine produced by the body itself,' with intensity identified as a critical factor. He added that 'we were struck by the fact that both resistance training and interval training suppressed cancer cell growth to a similar degree — although they appeared to act through elevations in different myokines.'
Francesco Bettariga, an ECU PhD student involved in the study, noted in a press release that exercise has emerged as a 'therapeutic intervention' for cancer management. 'A large body of evidence exists that shows the safety and effectiveness of exercise as medicine, either during or post-cancer treatment,' he said.
However, the researchers cautioned that the study's limitations must be considered. The experiments were conducted in a lab using cancer cells, not immune cells, which play a major role in how exercise may enhance cancer control. Lead researcher Bettariga said future studies are needed to confirm the preliminary findings in living humans.
Newton emphasized the broader context: exercise and diet help manage systemic inflammation, which can create a tumor-friendly environment. The researchers also noted that reducing fat mass and increasing lean mass through consistent exercise could lower inflammation and enhance anti-inflammatory markers, potentially reducing cancer recurrence risk. Bettariga added that changes in body composition influence inflammation and that muscle preservation is crucial for maintaining anti-cancer molecule production.
Based on these preliminary findings, the researchers encouraged people with cancer to aim for exercise most days of the week, combining physical activity with proper nutrition to support muscle mass and boost the body’s internal anti-cancer ‘pharmacy.’
While the findings are promising, experts cautioned that more research is needed to confirm whether the observed lab effects translate to real-world cancer outcomes. The study’s authors stressed that exercise should be viewed as a potential adjunct to existing cancer therapies, not a replacement.