Exercise Benefits Meet Cancer Immunosurveillance: Implications for Immunotherapy

Trends Cancer. 2021 Feb;7(2):91-93. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.12.003. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Abstract

Regular exercise reduces the risk of cancer. One potential mechanism for this efficacy is improved antitumor immunity. This is an important issue because evading immune destruction is a hallmark of cancer and immunotherapy is reshaping cancer treatment. Here we review recent developments reported by Wennerberg et al., Garritson et al., Martín-Ruiz et al., and Rundqvist et al. on the effects of exercise on anticancer immune cell effectors.

Keywords: CD8+ cells; NK cells; lymphocytes; physical activity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods
  • Exercise / physiology
  • Exercise Therapy / methods*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Holistic Health
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Immunologic Surveillance / drug effects
  • Immunologic Surveillance / genetics*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / metabolism
  • Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1 / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • Tumor Escape / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages / immunology

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • KLRK1 protein, human
  • NCR1 protein, human
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
  • Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1