Single Workout May Help Suppress Cancer Cell Growth

A new study from Edith Cowan University (ECU), Australia, reveals that even a single session of resistance training or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may help suppress cancer cell growth. Researchers found that 30 minutes of exercise significantly increased levels of muscle-derived proteins known as myokines, which possess anti-cancer properties and reduced cancer cell proliferation by 20–30%.

Exercise is already recognized as an effective adjunct to cancer therapy, with strong evidence supporting its safety and benefits during treatment and recovery. In trials with breast cancer survivors, both resistance training and HIIT led to marked increases in circulating myokines immediately after a single workout. These findings provide critical support for integrating exercise into standard cancer treatment protocols.

The research also highlights the long-term benefits of regular exercise, which can improve body composition—reducing fat mass and increasing lean muscle—thereby lowering systemic inflammation. Inflammation is a key driver of breast cancer recurrence and mortality, as it promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and weakens immune defenses. By building muscle and reducing fat, exercise creates a less favorable environment for cancer progression.

Importantly, the study stresses that rapid weight loss through dieting alone cannot replicate these benefits. Unlike calorie restriction, exercise uniquely preserves muscle mass while stimulating the release of protective biomolecules, underscoring its irreplaceable role in cancer prevention and management.