Overview
- Newcastle University researchers drew blood from 30 overweight or obese adults aged 50 to 78 immediately after a 10 to 12 minute high-intensity cycling test.
- Post-exercise serum applied to bowel cancer cells shifted activity in more than 1,300 genes, including those involved in cell proliferation and energy metabolism.
- DNA repair signaling increased in the lab, with activation of the PNKP repair pathway and higher levels of 13 measured proteins, including interleukin-6.
- The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, provides mechanistic evidence for how brief vigorous activity may influence tumor biology.
- Researchers emphasize the results are preclinical and plan follow-up studies to test repeated exercise effects and to replicate findings in people with cancer.