Key result
Voluntary wheel running in male mice with C26 adenocarcinoma prevented cachexia, preserved cardiac function, and reduced tumor mass by 57% and volume by 37%.
Why the study?
Cancer cachexia severely reduces survival and treatment response, and while exercise may preserve muscle mass and function, the translatability of preclinical models remains questionable.
Does voluntary wheel running prevent tumor-mediated cardiac and skeletal muscle dysfunction in male mice with C26 adenocarcinoma?
Does voluntary wheel running prevent tumor-mediated cardiac and skeletal muscle dysfunction in male mice with C26 adenocarcinoma?
Voluntary physical activity protects against cancer-induced cachexia and cardiac dysfunction in a preclinical model.
Muscle loss unresponsive to nutritional supplementation affects up to 80% of cancer patients and severely reduces survival and treatment response. Exercise may help preserve muscle mass and function, yet the translatability of preclinical methods remains questionable. This study aimed to assess how voluntary wheel running, a clinically relevant physical activity, protects skeletal and cardiac muscle against cancer-mediated dysfunction and identify underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: C26 cells; WR mice had wheel access for 4 weeks. Muscle function and tissue were analyzed for protective mechanisms. RESULTS: SED+T mice exhibited significant fat and lean mass loss, indicating cachexia, which was prevented in WR+T mice. SED+T also showed 15% reduced grip strength and cardiac dysfunction, while WR+T preserved function. WR+T mice had lower expression of muscle wasting markers (Atrogin1, MuRF1, GDF15, GDF8/11). Physical activity also reduced tumor mass by 57% and volume by 37%. CONCLUSION: Voluntary wheel running confers tumor-suppressive, myoprotective, and cardioprotective effects. These findings support physical activity as a non-pharmacological strategy to combat cancer-related muscle wasting and dysfunction.
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Tichy et al. (2025) studied Cancer-mediated cardiac and skeletal muscle dysfunction and wasting (cachexia). Voluntary wheel running vs. Sedentary (SED+T) was evaluated on Muscle function, tissue wasting, and tumor mass/volume. Voluntary wheel running in male mice with C26 adenocarcinoma prevented cachexia, preserved cardiac function, and reduced tumor mass by 57% and volume by 37%.
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