An increasing body of scientific evidence confirms that regular physical exercise not only improves fitness and well-being but can also support the body in fighting cancer. The latest research, published in the prestigious journal Cell, shows that the positive effects of physical activity are linked to significant changes in the gut microbiome. 

A team of researchers led by Dr. Marlies Meisel from the University of Pittsburgh conducted an experiment using a mouse model, inducing an aggressive form of melanoma in two groups of animals. One group participated in a four-week exercise program, while the other remained sedentary. The results were clear: the physically active the active rodents had smaller tumors and significantly better survival rates. 

Interestingly, these benefits were not observed in mice deprived of their microbiome (kept in sterile conditions) or in those treated with antibiotics. This finding suggests that the positive effects of exercise are mediated by gut bacteria and the metabolites they produce. 

To identify the key substances involved in this mechanism, the researchers employed machine learning tools. Data analysis revealed that formate—a chemical compound produced by certain gut bacteria—plays a special role, with its levels increasing after physical activity. Formate, as it turned out, boosts the activity of CD8+ T cells, which are one of the immune system’s main “weapons” in the fight against cancer cells. 

The next stage of the research involved analyzing samples from 19 patients with advanced melanoma. Individuals with higher formate levels in their blood lived longer without disease progression compared to those with lower concentrations of this metabolite. 

Dr. Meisel’s team is continuing its work to determine whether microbiome changes triggered by physical activity can also influence the course of other diseases—not just cancer. 

 Source: Science in Poland