Exercise shown to release protein reducing bowel cancer risk

Date:
April 7, 2022
Source:
Newcastle University
Summary:
Experts have identified for the first time exactly how exercise
can lower your risk of getting bowel cancer and slow the growth
of tumors.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Experts have identified for the first time exactly how exercise can
lower your risk of getting bowel cancer and slow the growth of tumours.


========================================================================== Scientists at Newcastle University have shown that physical activity
causes the cancer-fighting protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), to be released
into the bloodstream which helps repair the DNA of damaged cells.

The findings, published in the International Journal of Cancer, sheds
new light on the importance of moderate activity in the fight against the
life- threatening illness and could help develop treatments in the future.

Repairing DNA Dr Sam Orange, Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at Newcastle University, said: "Previous scientific evidence suggests that more
exercise is better for reducing bowel cancer risk as the more physical
activity people do, the lower their chances of getting it. Our findings
support this idea.

"When exercise is repeated multiple times each week over an extended
period, cancer-fighting substances -- such as IL-6 -- released into
the bloodstream have the opportunity to interact with abnormal cells,
repairing their DNA and reducing growth into cancer." In the small-scale study, which is a proof of principle, the team from Newcastle and York St
John universities recruited 16 men aged 50-80, all of whom had lifestyle
risk factors for bowel cancer, such as being overweight or obese and
not physically active.



========================================================================== After providing an initial blood sample, the participants cycled on
indoor bikes for a total of 30-minutes at a moderate intensity and a
second blood sample was taken as soon as they finished pedalling.

As a control measure, on a separate day, scientists took further blood
samples before and after the participants had rested. Tests were carried
out to see if exercise altered the concentration of cancer-fighting
proteins in the blood compared to resting samples and it was found that
there was an increase in IL- 6 protein.

Scientists added the blood samples to bowel cancer cells in a lab and
monitored cell growth over 48 hours. They identified that blood samples collected straight after exercise slowed the growth of the cancer cells compared with those collected at rest.

Furthermore, as well as reducing cancer growth, the exercise blood samples reduced the extent of DNA damage, suggesting that physical activity can
repair cells to create a genetically stable cell type.

Dr Orange said: "Our findings are really exciting because they reveal
a newly identified mechanism underlying how physical activity reduces
bowel cancer risk that is not dependent on weight loss.



========================================================================== "Understanding these mechanisms better could help develop more precise
exercise guidelines for cancer prevention. It could also help develop
drug treatments that mimic some of the health benefits of exercise.

"Physical activity of any type, and any duration, can improve health
and reduce bowel cancer risk but more is always better. People who
are sedentary should begin by moving more and look to build physical
activity into their daily routines." Dr Adam Odell, Senior Lecturer
in Biosciences from York St John University, who was also involved in
the study alongside Dr Alastair Jordan and Dr Owen Kavanagh, added: "Importantly, it is not just bowel cancer risk that can be reduced
by leading a more active lifestyle. Clear links exist between higher
exercise levels and a lower risk of developing other cancers, such as
cancers of the breast and endometrium.

"By working out a mechanism through which regular physical activity
is able to produce anti-cancer effects, our study provides further
support for current national and global efforts to increase exercise participation." Bowel cancer prevalence Bowel cancer is the 4th most
common cancer in the UK, accounting for 11% of all new cancer cases. There
are around 42,900 people diagnosed in the UK every year, that's nearly
120 each day.

It is estimated that physical activity reduces the risk by approximately
20%.

It can be done by going to the gym, playing sports or through active
travel such as walking or biking to work, but also as part of household
tasks or work like gardening or cleaning.

The team intend to carry out further research to identify exactly how
exercise reduces DNA damage in early-stage cancers and to establish the
most effective form of exercise for protecting against the disease.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Newcastle_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Samuel T. Orange, Alastair R. Jordan, Adam Odell, Owen Kavanagh,
Kirsty
M. Hicks, Tristan Eaglen, Stephen Todryk, John M. Saxton. Acute
aerobic exercise‐conditioned serum reduces colon cancer cell
proliferation in vitro through interleukin‐6‐induced
regulation of DNA damage. International Journal of Cancer, 2022;
DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33982 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220407101013.htm

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