Ten minutes of hard exercise releases molecules into the bloodstream that can shut down cancer growth signals and switch on DNA repair, according to research from Newcastle University, UK.

Exercise raises the levels of several small molecules in the blood, many of which are known to reduce inflammation, support blood vessel health and improve metabolism. 

The study involved 30 volunteers, male and female, aged 50 to 78, all overweight or obese, but otherwise healthy. They completed a 10-minute intense cycling test, after which researchers collected blood samples and analysed these for 249 proteins.

Thirteen of these proteins – which help to repair the DNA of damaged cells – increased after exercise.

Exercise boosted the activity of genes that support mitochondrial energy metabolism, enabling cells to use oxygen more efficiently. At the same time, genes linked to rapid cell growth were switched off, which could reduce the aggressiveness of cancer cells and exercise-conditioned blood promoted DNA repair, activating a key repair gene called PNKP. 

Senior lecturer in clinical exercise physiology at Newcastle University, Dr Sam Orange, who led the study, said: “What’s remarkable is that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it sends powerful signals through the bloodstream that can directly influence thousands of genes in cancer cells.

“These results suggest that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it may also create a more hostile environment for cancer cells. Even a single workout can make a difference. One bout of exercise, lasting just 10 minutes, sends powerful signals to the body. It’s a reminder that every step, every session, counts when it comes to doing your best to protect your health.”

Researchers plan to test whether repeated exercise sessions produce lasting changes and explore how these effects interact with standard cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Exercise serum promotes DNA damage repair and remodels gene expression in colon cancer cells was published in International Journal of Cancer.