#ExerciseOncology

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.

Groundbreaking research from Edith Cowan University demonstrates that a single forty-five minute exercise session can trigger release of muscle-derived proteins that significantly inhibit aggressive breast cancer cell growth in laboratory settings. The study, involving thirty-two breast cancer survivors, found that blood serum collected immediately after both resistance training and high-intensity interval training reduced triple-negative breast cancer cell proliferation by up to approximately thirty percent when applied to cultured cancer cells.

A new set of experiments suggests that a single 45‑minute session of exercise can flood the blood with muscle‑derived proteins that slow the growth of aggressive breast‑cancer cells in the laboratory — a finding that adds biological weight to years of epidemiological evidence linking physical activity with lower recurrence and mortality. Researchers at Edith Cowan University in Perth collected blood from 32 breast‑cancer survivors before, immediately after and 30 minutes following either a resistance training session or a high‑intensity interval training (HIIT) session; serum taken after exercise raised levels of several myokines (muscle‑secreted signalling proteins) and, when applied to cultured triple‑negative breast‑cancer cells, reduced tumour cell growth by up to about 30 percent in vitro [ScienceAlert; SpringerLink; Edith Cowan University newsroom].

A new wave of cancer care is emerging: exercise is not just a supplement but a targeted intervention that can influence cancer biology and treatment outcomes. Research from the Exercise Oncology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center shows that a carefully prescribed exercise plan can counteract treatment side effects and support recovery. For Thai readers facing cancer, this direction offers practical, evidence-based steps beyond traditional medicine.

Historically, patients were urged to rest during treatment. Today, scientists are rethinking inactivity. Spaceflight and chemotherapy-related fatigue share striking similarities, including muscle and cognitive decline. Dr. Jessica Scott, a leader in exercise oncology who previously worked with NASA, notes that both cancer patients and astronauts can benefit from movement. The key is tailoring activity to each person’s situation, an approach Dr. Scott has applied from space medicine to oncology.

A groundbreaking shift in cancer treatment is underway, as emerging scientific evidence highlights exercise not just as a supplement to traditional therapies but as a powerful intervention in its own right. Recent research led by the Exercise Oncology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) has demonstrated that strategically prescribed exercise can meaningfully influence cancer biology, helping to counteract the damaging effects of treatment while potentially improving patient outcomes. For Thai readers facing cancer, this latest research marks a promising new direction, offering hope and actionable steps beyond conventional medicine.