Scientists have found: 10 minutes of intense exercise can slow the development of bowel cancer

Just 10 minutes of intense physical activity can trigger mechanisms in the body that inhibit the growth of bowel cancer and accelerate the repair of damaged DNA. This is the conclusion reached by scientists from the University of Newcastle.

The results of the study are published in the International Journal of Cancer and provide a new explanation of how physical activity reduces cancer risks - at the molecular level.

What happens in the body during a short exercise session

The study found that even short but intense exercise causes rapid changes in blood composition. After a workout, the concentration of bioactive molecules in the blood increases, which are associated with:

• reducing inflammation,

• improved vascular function,

• energy metabolism.

When these molecules were applied to colon cancer cells in the laboratory, the activity of over 1300 genes changed, including genes responsible for:

• dNA repair,

• energy production,

• tumour cell growth and aggressiveness.

Why this is important in the fight against cancer

According to the study leader, Dr Sam Orange, exercise doesn't just work on healthy tissue:

"Exercise sends powerful signals through the bloodstream that directly affect thousands of genes in cancer cells."

Scientists have documented:

• activation of genes that improve mitochondria (cellular "energy stations");

• deactivation of genes responsible for rapid cell division;

• strengthening of DNA repair processes, including activation of the key gene PNKP.

All this makes the environment less favourable for tumour growth.

How the study was conducted

The experiment involved 30 volunteers aged 50 to 78 - all overweight or obese (a known cancer risk factor) but without chronic disease.

Participants performed a 10-minute intense cycling workout, after which scientists analysed blood samples. 249 proteins were studied, of which 13 increased significantly after exertion, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), a protein involved in repairing damaged cells.

Even one workout makes a difference

The researchers emphasise: the effects occur even after one exercise session.

"One short workout already sends powerful signals to the body. Every step and every session really makes a difference," Dr Orange noted.

Context: why it's relevant

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. Every 12 minutes a new case of the disease is diagnosed there, and every 30 minutes a person dies from it.

Experts estimate that regular physical activity reduces the risk of bowel cancer by around 20 per cent - and you don't have to be a professional athlete to do this: walking, cycling, housework or gardening will do.

What's next

In the future, the scientists plan to investigate:

• whether regular physical activity has a long-term effect;

• how physical activity interacts with chemotherapy and radiotherapy;

• whether it is possible to create drugs that mimic the 'exercise effect'.