The effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on the progression of colorectal cancer in an animal model

Purpose:  The aim of this study was to assess the effects of resistance and aerobic exercise on colorectal cancer (CRC) development in mice induced by azoxymethane (AOM) coupled with colitis.

Methods:  Forty animals induced with CRC were used, divided into five groups of eight animals each: sedentary; continuous aerobics; continuous anaerobic; aerobic PI; and anaerobic PI. AOM was administered to the animals in two doses of 10 mg/kg each over the course of two weeks, the first dose administered in the third week and the second administered in the fourth. For the colitis, three cycles of dextran sodium sulfate were administered for five days, separated by two weeks of water. The 14th week of the experiment saw the euthanasia, the removal of their colons, and the creation of microscopy slides for histological analysis.

Results:  Preneoplastic lesions developed in all five groups; there were no significant differences between them. However, in terms of inflammatory symptoms, mucosal ulceration was much more frequently in the exercise groups than in the sedentary group (p = 0.016). The number of polyps overall (p = 0.002), the distal region’s polyp development (p = 0.003), and the proximal region’s polyp development (p = 0.04) were all statistically different than sedentary group.

Conclusions:  The study discovered no significant difference in disease activity index scores between groups, but there was a significant difference in the number of polyps and the presence of mucosal ulceration in the colon.

Key words
Colorectal Neoplasms; Colitis-Associated Neoplasms; Exercise; Azoxymethane; Models, Animal