Research Suggests That Exercise Cuts Breast Cancer Risk

Can exercise really help to ward off breast cancer? Researchers at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque think so. The Wall Street Journal, reports that scientists at the school have been studying the cancer fighting effects of irisin, a hormone that is released from muscles after vigorous exercise. When the researchers tested genetically engineered irisin on aggressive breast-cancer cells and on nonmalignant breast cells, they found that irisin treatment reduced the number of malignant cells by 34 percent compared with untreated cells, but had no effect on nonmalignant cells. Cell migration, the Journal reports, the movement of cancer cells to new sites, was reduced by 51 percent, suggesting that irisin may prevent or slow metastasis. Wait, there’s more: cell death was 22 times greater in irisin-treated cancer cells than untreated cells. All of which could explain why women who exercise are reported to have a 30 percent to 40 percent reduced risk of breast cancer and improved survival if they have the disease. The Journal reports that irisin is currently being tested on two aggressive strains of malignant prostate cells and on healthy prostate cells. It also points out that all of these tests took place in the lab, and none involved human trials.