Cancer Research reduces the risk of metastatic cancer by 72%

The researchers found that high-intensity aerobic exercise increased glucose consumption and reduced the amount of energy
available to tumors.

According to a recent study by Tel Aviv University, aerobic exercise can significantly reduce the chance
of metastatic cancer by 72%.
The researchers found that high-intensity aerobic exercise increased the consumption of glucose (sugar) by internal organs, reducing the amount of energy
available to the tumor.

Professor Carmit Levy from the Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry and Dr Yftach Gepner from the School of Public Health and the Sehrvan Adams Sports Institute at the TAU Sackler School of Medicine conducted the study
.
Professor Levy noted that by fusing scientific knowledge from different TAU faculties, the new study yielded a very important finding that could help avoid metastatic cancer, the number one cause
of death in Israel.
The study was recently published on
the cover of the journal Cancer Research.

Professor Levy and Dr Gepner: "Studies have shown that physical activity can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer by up to 35%.

This positive effect is similar
to the effect of exercise on other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
In this study, we added new insights showing that high-intensity aerobic exercise for energy from sugar can reduce the risk of metastatic cancer by 72%.

If the general message to the public so far was 'active, healthy', now we can explain how aerobic exercise can maximize the prevention of the most aggressive and metastatic cancers
.
”

The study combined an animal model in which mice were trained under a rigorous exercise routine, while data from healthy human volunteers were evaluated
before and after running.
Human data comes from an epidemiological study that monitored 3,000 people for about 20 years, and data showed that participants who regularly engaged in high-intensity aerobic exercise had 72 percent
fewer metastatic cancers compared to those who did not engage in physical activity.

Animal models showed similar results and also allowed researchers to identify its underlying mechanisms
.
They sampled the internal organs of healthy animals, and before and after physical exercise, as well as after cancer injections, they found that aerobic exercise significantly reduced the development of
metastatic tumors in the lymph nodes, lungs, and liver.
The researchers hypothesized that in humans and model animals, this good outcome was associated with
an increased rate of glucose consumption induced by exercise.

Professor Levy: "Our study is the first to investigate the effects of exercise on internal organs that typically metastasize, such as the lungs, liver and lymph nodes
.
By examining the cells of these organs, we found that during high-intensity aerobic exercise, the number of glucose receptors increases — increasing glucose intake and turning the organs into efficient energy-consuming machines, just like muscles
.
”

She continued: "We think this is because organs have to compete with muscles for sugar resources, known to burn a lot of glucose
during physical exercise.
Therefore, if cancer occurs, fierce competition for glucose reduces the availability of
energy that is essential for metastasis.
In addition, when a person exercises regularly, this condition becomes permanent: the organization of internal organs changes, becoming similar to muscle tissue
.
We all know that exercise and physical activity are good
for our health.
Our study examined internal organs and found that movement changes the entire body so that the cancer does not spread and the primary tumor shrinks
.
”

Dr Gepner added: "Our findings suggest that unlike relatively gentle fat-burning exercise, it is a high-intensity aerobic exercise that helps prevent cancer
.
If the optimal intensity range for burning fat is 65-70% of the maximum pulse rate, then burning sugar requires 80-85% – even if only at short intervals
.
For example, walking after a one-minute sprint, then another sprint
.
In the past, such intervals were mostly typical training regimens for athletes, but today we can see them in other exercise regimens as well, such as cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
.
Our findings suggest that healthy people should also incorporate high-intensity ingredients
into their fitness routines.
”

He concluded: "We are confident that future research will make it possible to personalize medicines to prevent specific cancers, and that doctors can recommend the right physical activity
by reviewing family medical history.
" It must be emphasized that physical activity has a unique metabolic and physiological effect, and to date it has prevented cancer
better than any drug or medical intervention.
”

An Exercise-Induced Metabolic Shield in Distant Organs Blocks Cancer Progression and Metastatic Dissemination" by Danna Sheinboim, Shivang Parikh, Paulee Manich, Irit Markus, Sapir Dahan , Roma Parikh, Elisa Stubbs, Gali Cohen, Valentina Zemser-Werner, Rachel E.
Bell, Sara Arciniegas Ruiz, Ruth Percik, Ronen Brenner, Stav Leibou, Hananya Vaknine, Gali Arad, Yariv Gerber, Lital Keinan-Boker, Tal Shimony, Lior Bikovski, Nir Goldstein, Keren Constantini, Sapir Labes, Shimonov Mordechai, Hila Doron, Ariel Lonescu, Tamar Ziv, Eran Nizri, Guy Choshen, Hagit Eldar-Finkelman, Yuval Tabach, Aharon Helman, Shamgar Ben-Eliyahu, Neta Erez, Eran Perlson, Tamar Geiger, Danny Ben-Zvi, Mehdi Khaled, Yftach Gepner and Carmit Levy, 15 November 2022, Cancer Research.