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Exercise-Induced Changes in Tumor Growth via Tumor Immunity
Polyxeni Spiliopoulou1, Maria Gavriatopoulou2, Efstathios Kastritis2
1Sports Performance Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece.
Sports (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 3, 2021
Summary
Physical exercise can positively impact tumor immunity by mobilizing immune cells. This may enhance tumor suppression and could be a future strategy for cancer immunotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Tumor microenvironment immunity is crucial for cancer development.
- Tumors employ immunosuppressive mechanisms to evade immune responses.
- Physical exercise acutely and chronically modulates immune cell distribution and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of physical exercise on tumor immunity and growth.
- To explore how exercise-induced immune changes may suppress tumors.
- To discuss the potential of combining exercise with cancer immunotherapies.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of preclinical (rodent) studies.
- Analysis of research on exercise's impact on intra-tumoral immune cell infiltration.
- Examination of exercise-induced shifts in immune cell populations (macrophages, neutrophils, NK cells, T lymphocytes).
Main Results:
- Physical exercise can promote tumor-suppressive immune responses.
- Exercise may reduce tumor-progressive mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment.
- Exercise in rodents alters the infiltration of key immune cells, leading to tumor suppression.
Conclusions:
- Exercise demonstrates potential as an adjunct to cancer immunotherapy.
- Further research is needed to optimize exercise parameters (intensity, duration, frequency).
- Investigation into exercise effects on other immune cells and human tumors is required.
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