The Effect of High Intensity Interval Training on STAT-3 and Angiopoietin-1 Gene Expression, and tie-2 Protein in Mice with Breast Cancer

Angiogenesis has a great role in physiological development of tissues and tumors. Considering the key role of STAT-3 and angiopoietin-1-tie-2 in angiogenesis, this study aimed to investigate the effect of 10 weeks of high intensity interval exercise (HIIT) on STAT-3 and angiopoietin-1 gene expression, and tie-2 protein in mice with breast cancer.
After inducing cancer (subcutaneous injection of MC4-L2 on the right side of mice), twelve Balb/c mice (6-8 weeks, weight 19±1.05) were randomly assigned to HIIT (n=6) and non-active groups (n=6). HIIT sessions were performed five days a week for 10 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last session of HIIT, the animals were sacrificed and the tumor tissue was isolated for measuring the expression of STAT-3 and angiopoietin-1 gene by qreal time PCR and measuring tie-2 protein by western blot method. Tumor volume changes were also assessed using a digital caliper every week.
The results of this study showed a significant decrease in expression of STAT-3 and angiopoietin-1, and changes in tumor volume and tie-2 in the training group compared to the control group (p =0.001).
It appears that high intensity interval exercise can reduce the rate of tumor progression through decreasing the expression of some angiogenesis promoters, and is an effective non-medical method for reducing tumor growth.