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Physical activity prevents tumor metastasis through modulation of immune function
Aiping Zheng1,2, Lei Zhang3, Jiaqing Yang4
1Division of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
|October 31, 2022
Summary
Physical activity (PA) can help prevent cancer metastasis by modulating immune cells. Understanding these mechanisms offers new therapeutic strategies to improve cancer patient survival and quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Metastasis causes 90% of cancer deaths, with limited survival for diagnosed patients.
- Physical activity (PA) is an emerging adjuvant therapy for cancer survivors, improving outcomes and treatment efficacy.
- Mechanisms linking PA, tumor behavior, and metastasis are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the critical link between immune function and exercise in preventing cancer metastasis.
- To explore how physical activity modulates immune cells to inhibit tumor spread.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing existing research on PA, immunity, and cancer metastasis.
- Analysis of immune cell interactions with tumor cells during metastasis.
- Examination of PA's effects on immune cell antitumor functions.
Main Results:
- Physical activity demonstrates the ability to induce antitumor effects in immune cells.
- Immune cells play a crucial role in every stage of tumor metastasis.
- PA can potentially modulate immune cell behavior to reduce tumor metastasis.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity holds significant promise as an intervention to prevent cancer metastasis.
- Targeting immune modulation by PA could lead to novel anti-metastasis therapies.
- Further research into PA-induced immune mechanisms can improve cancer patient survival and quality of life.
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