A new study from Edith Cowan University shows that a single 45-minute exercise session can trigger muscle-derived proteins that significantly slow the growth of aggressive breast cancer cells in the lab. Blood serum collected right after resistance training and after high-intensity interval training (HIIT) reduced the proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer cells by up to about 30 percent when applied to cultured cells.
This research adds biological context to a large body of evidence linking physical activity with lower breast cancer recurrence and mortality. For Thai readers, where breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, understanding how exercise may influence cancer biology is especially relevant for survivorship care and prevention strategies.
Study Design and Key Findings
Researchers conducted a randomized, single-session trial with women who had completed primary breast cancer treatment at least four months earlier. Participants engaged in either a multi-exercise resistance program, including chest presses, seated rows, leg presses, and lunges at high intensity, or an HIIT program with repeated 30-second maximal efforts on cycling, treadmill, rowing, or cross-training equipment, with short recovery intervals.
Blood samples were taken at baseline, immediately after exercise, and 30 minutes later. Measurements showed acute rises in specific myokines—protein signals released by contracting muscles, such as decorin, interleukin-6, and SPARC. Both exercise modalities elevated myokines, with HIIT producing a larger immediate interleukin-6 response.
In the lab, researchers cultured the aggressive MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells with participants’ serum at a 20 percent concentration and tracked growth over 72 hours. Serum collected immediately post-exercise reduced cancer cell growth by roughly 20–21 percent, while serum collected 30 minutes post-exercise reduced growth by about 19 percent after resistance training and 29 percent after HIIT.
Mechanisms and Implications
The findings illustrate exercise beyond fitness gains, suggesting contracting muscles act as an endocrine organ that releases myokines with anti-inflammatory and, in controlled lab settings, anti-tumor effects. Decorin, interleukin-6, and SPARC emerged as candidate mechanisms for exercise-related protection against cancer progression.
Researchers caution that laboratory results do not directly translate to clinical recurrence prevention. The study used a single cell line and two-dimensional cultures, and observed acute effects rather than long-term outcomes. Nonetheless, these results align with broader research into how exercise stimulates systemic changes, boosts immune surveillance, and reduces inflammation that can influence tumor behavior.
Thai Context and Cancer Care
Thailand is increasingly recognizing survivorship as a core element of cancer care. With breast cancer remaining the most common cancer among Thai women, scalable exercise programs could be integrated into existing care pathways at community health centers and hospitals. Both resistance and HIIT modalities showed beneficial myokine responses, offering flexible options to accommodate different fitness levels and medical considerations.
Implementation could involve training oncology nurses and physiotherapists to prescribe exercise, coordinating supervised classes, and leveraging community networks to reach more survivors safely. Exercise would complement medical monitoring and psychosocial support within a holistic survivorship framework.
Safety and Practical Guidance
Laboratory evidence does not guarantee clinical recurrence prevention. Survivors should seek medical clearance before starting or intensifying activity and work with professionals experienced in cancer rehabilitation. Programs should be individualized, with attention to cardiovascular health, lymphedema risk, bone density, and other comorbidities.
A practical approach combines resistance training targeting major muscle groups two to three times weekly with regular aerobic activity most days. For those with limited access to formal programs, home-based routines using body-weight exercises and walking, supplemented by periodic professional guidance, can be effective. Community venues such as temples or municipal centers can expand access while providing social support.
Future directions include longer-term trials with diverse patient populations to determine whether sustained exercise-induced myokine elevations correlate with reduced clinical recurrence and improved survival. Thai researchers can contribute to international collaborations while ensuring relevance to local healthcare delivery and cultural context.
Conclusion
The study provides encouraging early evidence that exercise triggers biological responses with potential anti-cancer effects, supporting existing epidemiological links between activity and better breast cancer outcomes. For Thailand’s growing survivor population, these findings reinforce the value of integrating appropriate physical activity into recovery and long-term care. However, real-world benefits will depend on sustained, supervised programs and inclusive survivorship services that respect Thai culture and healthcare realities.