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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Aug;213(1):171-180.
doi: 10.1007/s10549-025-07772-w. Epub 2025 Jul 3.

A single bout of resistance or high-intensity interval training increases anti-cancer myokines and suppresses cancer cell growth in vitro in survivors of breast cancer

Francesco Bettariga  1   2 , Dennis R Taaffe  1   2 , Cristina Crespo-Garcia  1   2 , Timothy D Clay  1   3 , Mauro De Santi  4 , Giulia Baldelli  4 , Sanjeev Adhikari  2   5 , Elin S Gray  2   5 , Daniel A Galvão  1   2 , Robert U Newton  6   7   8
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A single bout of resistance or high-intensity interval training increases anti-cancer myokines and suppresses cancer cell growth in vitro in survivors of breast cancer

Francesco Bettariga et al. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2025 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women, highlighting the need for strategies to mitigate recurrence and mortality. We examined the effects of a single bout of resistance training (RT) versus high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on anti-cancer myokines and in vitro cancer cell suppression.

Methods: Thirty-two survivors of breast cancer were randomly allocated to a single bout of RT (n = 16) or HIIT (n = 16). Blood was collected before, immediately post (0P) and 30 min post (30P) exercise. We measured serum levels of decorin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), and oncostatin M (OSM) and cell growth of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro using real time cellular analysis at each time point.

Results: Decorin, IL-6, and SPARC significantly increased (9 to 47%, p < 0.05) from baseline to 0P in both groups. IL-6 remained elevated in both groups at 30 min post-intervention (30P), while OSM levels were elevated only in the RT group at 30P. Between groups, IL-6 was significantly increased in HIIT at 0P (p = 0.001). Cancer cell growth was significantly reduced at 0P and 30P compared to baseline in RT (20 to 21%, p < 0.05) and HIIT (19 to 29%, p < 0.05), with significantly greater effects on MDA-MB-231 cell growth reduction in favour of HIIT at 0P (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: A single bout of RT or HIIT can increase levels of anti-cancer myokines and reduce the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro in survivors of breast cancer, potentially contributing to a lower risk of recurrence. This highlights the importance of exercise as a treatment with promising anti-cancer effects.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Cancer cell; High intensity interval training; Myokine; Resistance training.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: Francesco Bettariga, Dennis R. Taaffe, Cristina Crespo Garcia, Timothy D. Clay, Mauro De Santi, Giulia Baldelli, Sanjeev Adhikari, Elin S. Gray, Daniel A. Galvão, and Robert U. Newton declare that they have no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) diagram
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Myokine levels in resistance training and high intensity interval training groups. Legend. pg = picogram; ng = nanogram; BA = baseline; 0P = immediately post exercise; 30P = 30 min post exercise; RT = resistance training; HIIT = high intensity interval training; * = p < 0.0167 compared to baseline
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Area under the curve in resistance training and high intensity interval training groups. Legend. RT = resistance training; HIIT = high intensity interval training; BA = baseline; 0P = immediately post exercise; 30P = 30 min post exercise; * = p < 0.0167 compared to baseline. Boxes indicate the interquartile range (IQR), from the 25th percentile (Q1) to the 75th percentile (Q3). The horizontal line inside the box represents the median (Q2). The black squares inside the boxes denote the mean, and error bars represent the SE
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