Archive · 16 Sep 2025
Exercise May Fight Cancer: HIIT and Resistance Training Study
Scientists looked at how exercise affects cancer cells.
They had breast cancer survivors do two types of exercise: lifting weights (resistance training) and short, intense workouts (HIIT).
Both types helped, reducing cancer cell growth in lab tests.
HIIT reduced cancer cell growth slightly more.
The results showed that both forms of exercise increased levels of special proteins called myokines, which may help fight cancer.
This suggests both types of exercise can benefit those with cancer, regardless of the specific exercise chosen.
Researchers studied the effects of resistance training and HIIT on breast cancer cells.
Both RT and HIIT reduced breast cancer cell growth in vitro.
Resistance training reduced cancer cell growth by 22%.
HIIT reduced cancer cell growth by 25%.
Both exercise groups showed increased myokine levels.
- Who
- Researchers from Edith Cowan University studied breast cancer survivors
- What
- The study investigated the effects of resistance training and HIIT on breast cancer cell growth
- When
- Over a 12-week training program
- Where
- In vitro, using blood samples from breast cancer survivors
- Why
- To determine the impact of exercise on myokines and their cancer-suppressing abilities
- Study Focus
- Effects of resistance training (RT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on breast cancer cell growth
- Researchers
- Edith Cowan University (ECU)
- Participants
- Breast cancer survivors
- Exercise Types
- Resistance training and high-intensity interval training
- RT Result
- Reduced cancer cell growth by 22%
- HIIT Result
- Reduced cancer cell growth by 25%
- Myokines
- Proteins with anti-cancer effects, produced by muscles during exercise
