A New Activity That Can Reduce the Risk of Cancer Metastasis by 72 Percent

Researchers found that high-intensity aerobic exercise triggers metabolic reprogramming in internal organs, increasing their nutrient demands and thereby protecting them against metastatic spread by limiting nutrient availability to the tumor. In other words, exercise was found to increase glucose consumption and reduce the amount of energy available to the tumor.

Exercise increases glucose consumption and reduces the risk of cancer spreading.

According to a recent study by scientists at Tel Aviv University (TAU), aerobic exercise can reduce the risk of developing metastatic cancer by a substantial 72%. The researchers found that high-intensity aerobic exercise increases glucose (sugar) consumption in internal organs and reduces the amount of energy available to the tumor.

The study was led by Professor Carmit Levy and Dr. Yftach Gepner from TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Sylvan Adams Sports Institute, Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry. Prof. Levy notes that this new research, featured in November 2022 on the cover of Cancer Research , led to a major discovery that may help prevent metastatic cancer, Israel’s leading cause of death by bringing together the scientific knowledge and expertise of researchers working in different departments at TAU.

Prof. Carmit Levy and Dr. Yftach Gepner:

“Previous studies have shown that physical exercise reduces the risk of some cancers by up to 35%. This positive effect is similar to its effect on other conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. In this study, we added new information showing that high-intensity aerobic exercise, which derives its energy from sugar, can reduce metastatic cancer risk by up to 72%. Until now, the general public message was ‘be active, be healthy’; we can now explain how aerobic activity can maximize prevention of the most aggressive and metastatic cancer types.”

The research combined data from healthy human volunteers assessed before and after running with data from an animal model involving mice trained on a rigorous exercise routine. Human data from an epidemiological (population observational) study that followed 3,000 people for approximately 20 years showed a 72% lower risk of metastatic cancer among participants reporting regular high-intensity aerobic activity than among those who did not exercise.

The animal model showed a similar result and enabled the researchers to identify the underlying mechanism. Evaluations before and after physical exercise, and following cancer cell implantation in physically fit animals, found that aerobic activity substantially reduced metastatic tumor development in the lymph nodes, lungs and liver. The researchers hypothesized that this favorable outcome in both humans and experimental animals was associated with the increased rate of glucose consumption triggered by exercise.

Prof. Levy: “Our study is the first to investigate exercise’s effects on internal organs where metastases commonly develop, such as the lungs, liver and lymph nodes. Examining their cells, we found an increase in the number of glucose receptors (cell-surface receptors) during high-intensity aerobic activity, increasing glucose uptake and turning the organs into effective energy-consuming machines, just like muscles. We assume this is because the organs must compete for sugar resources with muscles, which are known to burn large amounts of glucose during physical exercise. Consequently, if cancer develops, intense competition for glucose reduces the availability of energy crucial for metastasis. Moreover, with regular exercise this condition becomes permanent: internal organ tissues change and become similar to muscle tissue. We all know that sports and physical exercise benefit our health. By studying internal organs, we discovered that exercise changes the entire body, preventing cancer from spreading and also shrinking the primary tumor.”

Dr. Gepner: “Our results indicate that high-intensity aerobic activity helps prevent cancer, unlike relatively moderate fat-burning exercise. Whereas the optimal intensity range for burning fat is above 65-70% of maximum heart rate, burning sugar requires 80-85%, even if only at short intervals. For example, a one-minute sprint, followed by walking and then another sprint. Such intervals used to be typical mainly of athletes’ training regimens, but we now see them in other exercise routines, such as cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. Our results suggest that healthy individuals should include high-intensity components in their fitness programs.”

In conclusion, exactly how exercise prevents cancer is not fully understood. In the study discussed here, data from melanoma models showed that exercise triggers metabolic reprogramming of internal organs, increasing their nutrient demands and thereby protecting them against metastatic spread by limiting nutrient availability to the tumor.

The researchers say they believe future studies will enable personalized medicine for preventing specific cancers, with doctors examining family history to recommend the appropriate type of physical activity. They emphasize that physical exercise, with its unique metabolic and physiological effects, has shown a greater level of cancer prevention than any drug or medical intervention to date.