OVERVIEW

The Benefits of Exercise in Patients with Cancer Webinar is organized by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) and will be held on Jul 24, 2025.

Description:
This webinar offers a comprehensive overview of the role of exercise in cancer research, focusing on the physiological mechanisms underlying the benefits of exercise for patients with cancer. Drawing on the latest findings, the session explores how different exercise modes, volume, and intensity can drive physical and physiological adaptations in cancer settings.

The webinar begins by examining the association between physical fitness, specifically muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, and all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in cancer patients. Then, the webinar delves into how exercise can modulate inflammation in cancer, which is associated with poor outcomes, and the mediators involved in these changes. In detail, the role of body composition, particularly muscle mass and fat mass, in modulating inflammation is explored, highlighting how these changes contribute to reducing cancer recurrence and mortality.

Next, the webinar focuses on myokines, cytokines released by skeletal muscle cells in response to muscular contractions. It will examine the impact of exercise-induced myokines on muscle growth, fat reduction, and their effects on the immune system and inflammation. Most importantly, the session will explore the cancer-suppressive effects of exercise-induced myokines, discussing how these molecules can inhibit cancer progression and growth.

Additionally, the webinar will address how exercise mode, intensity, and volume can enhance these cancer-suppressive effects induced by myokines and their impact on body composition and inflammation.

The webinar will also present findings from recent clinical trials that investigate the effects of exercise programs on myokines, inflammation, and cancer growth, with a focus on breast. Key results will include how exercise stimulates myokine responses, reduces inflammation, and inhibits the growth of aggressive breast cancer which, in turn, contribute to reducing risk of cancer mortality.

By the end of this session, participants will have a deeper understanding of the therapeutic benefits of exercise in cancer setting. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how exercise medicine can be applied in practice, including the development of tailored exercise prescriptions that optimize health outcomes and reduce risk of cancer recurrence and mortality. The webinar will also discuss future research directions, emphasizing the need for tailored exercise prescription and further exploration of exercise as anti-cancer treatment.

Learning Outcomes:
• Understand the role of exercise in cancer prevention and management.
• Assess the impact of different exercise modes, volume, and intensity on cancer cell growth and inflammatory biomarkers.
• Identify how exercise-induced myokines contribute to direct cancer suppression.
• Apply evidence-based anti-cancer exercise prescriptions tailored to cancer patients, considering individual needs and cancer types.