Moderate Intensity Endurance and Resistance Exercise Attenuates Cachexia in Tumor-bearing Mice

Background/Aim: Cancer cachexia encompasses several deleterious physiological alterations associated with functional impairments, poor quality of life, and increased mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of chronic moderate intensity exercise training on markers of cachexia. Materials and Methods: Balb/c mice were randomly assigned to sedentary (SED) or exercise (EX) groups and EX mice were further randomly assigned to one of three exercise modalities (aerobic, resistance, combined). Results: Cachexia was induced in SED animals inoculated with C26 cells, as evidenced by significant changes in numerous markers. All cachexia-related perturbations were significantly attenuated in EX versus SED animals. Systemic inflammation was significantly decreased in all EX groups, as evident by a normalization of spleen mass and plasma IL-6. Conclusion: Multiple moderate intensity exercise modalities can provide significant benefits in cachectic mice, and this may be due, at least in part, to decreased systemic inflammation.