A single workout session could activate anti-cancer effects in breast cancer survivors, study finds

Both resistance or high intensity interval training could help in the cancer battle. Image credit – Edith Cowen University

Research shows both resistance and high-intensity interval exercise increase cancer-fighting myokines and suppress cancer cell growth in laboratory conditions.

CANCER DIGEST – A new study suggests that a single exercise session can produce a powerful anti-cancer effect in breast cancer survivors by triggering the release of specific proteins produced by muscle cells.

Led by PhD candidate Francesco Bettariga, the study findings, published July 3, 2025 in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, indicate that both resistance training (RT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can increase myokine levels and suppress cancer cell growth in laboratory samples.

"Exercise has emerged as a therapeutic intervention in the management of cancer," Bettariga said in a press release, "and a large body of evidence exists that show the safety and effectiveness of exercise as medicine, either during or post cancer treatment."

The researchers from Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia conducted the trial to examine the effects of a single workout on anti-cancer myokine expression and cancer cell suppression in breast cancer survivors.

The study involved 32 breast cancer survivors who were randomly assigned to either a single bout of RT or HIIT. Blood samples were collected from participants before and after their exercise sessions. The blood serum was then introduced to breast cancer cells in a laboratory to observe the effects.

They found that serum levels of anti-cancer myokines including decorin, IL-6, and SPARC were significantly increased in both groups after just one workout.The post-exercise serum was found to reduce the growth of the breast cancer cells, with reductions of approximately 20%-30%, depending on the exercise type and time point.

While both exercise modes were effective, high-intensity interval training appeared to yield slightly greater cancer-suppression effects and a more significant increase in IL-6 levels.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence that exercise is a powerful, non-pharmacological treatment option that can improve body composition, which can decrease inflammation, and potentially lower the risk of recurrence.

Bettariga's research is also looking into how body composition, meaning the ratio of fat to muscle tissues can affect inflammation. Persistent inflammation has been shown to play a role in breast cancer recurrence and progression by increasing cell proliferation and metastasis, or spreading of cancer cells, according to Bettariga.

His research has shown that reducing fat mass and increasing lean mass through consistent and persistent exercise, cancer survivors had a better chance of reducing inflammation.

The study's authors stress that exercise should be considered an addition to, not a replacement for, established cancer treatments. They also note that while the results are promising, the effects were shown in laboratory cells, which cannot account for the complex tumor environment within the human body.

Nevertheless, the research provides compelling evidence that a single session of moderate-to-high intensity exercise has the potential to help suppress cancer cell growth, reinforcing the critical role of physical activity in long-term health for cancer survivors.

Sources: Draft AI generated by Google Gemini, edited and checked for accuracy by the editor. Data taken from the journal of Breast Cancer and Treatment and from the press release from Edith Cowan University