Exercise is a cure for cancer, and every dose counts — even in advanced cancer

It's well known that exercise has many benefits, but new research from Edith Cowen University (ECU) sheds light on the importance of exercise – even for patients with advanced cancer
.

Previous research by the ECU Institute of Sports Medicine has shown that men with advanced prostate cancer can change the body's chemical environment through 6 months of exercise training to inhibit the growth
of cancer cells.

The team observed increased levels of a protein called "myokines" produced by skeletal muscle, which can inhibit tumor growth and even help actively fight cancer cells by stimulating a range of anti-cancer
processes in the body.

But a new EMRI study shows that a single exercise can further boost saratine levels and further suppress cancer
.

Importantly, this exercise-induced drug is suitable for patients with incurable, advanced cancer who have been extensively treated
for years.

Nine patients with advanced prostate cancer underwent 34 minutes of high-intensity exercise in a fixed cycle, collecting serum immediately before and after exercise and then again 30 minutes after exercise
.

The team found that serum obtained immediately after this "dose" campaign contained higher levels of cancer-fighting muscle factor, resulting in about 17 percent inhibition
of growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro.

After 30 minutes, serum sarcosine levels and cancer suppression returned to baseline levels
.

Professor Rob Newton, EMRI researcher and head of research, said this was a breakthrough moment
in sports oncology.

"Our findings are particularly exciting because we report for the first time that men with advanced prostate cancer are able to produce an acute elevation
of an anti-cancer molecule called saratine after a single strenuous exercise," he said.

"This helps us understand why cancer patients who exercise progress their disease slowly and survive longer
.
"

"These patients are only palliative, so there is no cure and they will eventually die – however, there is evidence that exercise can prolong survival, and the increase in creatine levels explored in our recent paper is the main mechanism
.
"

Professor Newton said that while there was still a lot of research to be done, the results of the study could help shape immediate recommendations
for cancer patients.

"The optimal dose of exercise is unknown, but it is likely to be more than 20 minutes a day, which must include resistance training to grow muscle, increase the size and volume of the internal pharmacy, and stimulate the production
of saratine," he said.

"This study provides strong evidence for prostate cancer patients, as well as any cancer patient's recommendation, that if not exercise every day, then exercise should be spent most of the time to maintain the chemical environment in the body and thus inhibit cancer cell proliferation
.
"

"Acute Effects of High-intensity Interval Aerobic Exercise on Serum Creatine Levels in Well-Trained Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer and the Consequent Tumor Suppressive Effects" was published in the journal Prostate Cancer and Prostate Disease
.