Voluntary Physical Exercise Reduces Motor Dysfunction and Hampers Tumor Cell Proliferation in a Mouse Model of Glioma.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020;
17:ijerph17165667. [PMID:
32764487 PMCID:
PMC7460183 DOI:
10.3390/ijerph17165667]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Currently, high-grade gliomas are the most difficult brain cancers to treat and all the approved experimental treatments do not offer long-term benefits regarding symptom improvement. Epidemiological studies indicate that exercise decreases the risk of brain cancer mortality, but a direct relationship between physical exercise and glioma progression has not been established so far. Here, we exploited a mouse model of high-grade glioma to directly test the impact of voluntary physical exercise on the tumor proliferation and motor capabilities of affected animals. We report that exposing symptomatic, glioma-bearing mice to running wheels (i) reduced the proliferation rate of tumors implanted in the motor cortex and (ii) delayed glioma-induced motor dysfunction. Thus, voluntary physical exercise might represent a supportive intervention that complements existing neuro-oncologic therapies, contributing to the preservation of functional motor ability and counteracting the detrimental effects of glioma on behavioral output.
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