Clinical Results Show Increased 'Myokine' in Blood After Exercise Inhibits Cancer Cell Progression
A study published on the 11th revealed that exercise is effective for prostate cancer. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. / Photo by Pixabay
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Research results have been announced showing that consistent exercise has the effect of suppressing prostate cancer.
According to Science Daily and others, on the 11th, Professor Robert Newton's team at the Exercise Medicine Research Institute of Edith Cowan University in Australia announced research findings that myokines, proteins secreted from muscles into the blood during exercise, play a key role in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and fighting cancer cells.
The research team conducted a clinical trial by implementing a 12-week exercise program for obese prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which reduces male hormones, and collected blood samples before and after the program.
The results showed that after three months, patients had increased blood myokine levels, which slowed the progression of the cancer.
Professor Robert Newton, the lead researcher, stated, "When exposing live prostate cancer cells to blood taken before and after exercise, we confirmed that cancer cell growth was significantly suppressed in the blood after exercise."
Kim Jin-su, a researcher who participated as the first author of the study, explained, "This shows that consistent exercise creates an environment in the body that suppresses cancer."
He added, "Myokines send signals to reduce or stop the proliferation rate of cancer cells, but they do not have the ability to kill cancer cells themselves. While myokines cannot send signals to kill cancer cells, they can actively counter cancer cells by combining with other cells in the blood."
Professor Newton said, "ADT, a prostate cancer treatment, is effective but reduces lean body mass excluding body fat and increases fat mass, leading to sarcopenic obesity, which can worsen health and cancer prognosis. Exercise can be expected to complement ADT."
He further speculated that this mechanism could apply not only to prostate cancer but to all cancers, explaining that "even patients with metastatic advanced cancer who are physically active may not die early."
ADT is a prostate cancer treatment method that began in the 1940s. It suppresses the production of male hormones such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can promote the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. However, this treatment has side effects such as increasing body fat, worsening cardiovascular health, and accumulating fatigue.
This research was published in the latest issue of the American College of Sports Medicine journal, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
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