Short Exercise Sessions May Influence Bowel Cancer Cells

Short Exercise Sessions May Influence Bowel Cancer Cells
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A study by Newcastle University suggests that even brief bouts of exercise, as short as 10 minutes, can trigger molecular changes that may help protect against bowel cancer, The Telegraph reported. Researchers observed that acute physical activity altered blood chemistry in ways that could impact cancer cell behavior. The team collected blood samples from 30 overweight or obese but otherwise healthy men before and after a 10–12-minute cycling session.

Laboratory tests exposing bowel cancer cells to pre- and post-exercise blood serum revealed that exercise increased 13 proteins linked to reduced inflammation, improved blood vessel function, and metabolism. These molecules also affected the activity of 1,364 genes in cancer cells, including those involved in DNA repair, energy production, and cell growth.

Dr. Sam Orange, senior lecturer in clinical exercise physiology, said the findings highlight how exercise sends signals through the bloodstream that directly influence cancer-related genes. He added that the research could inform future therapies that replicate exercise’s cellular benefits.