Comparing the Effect of Two Exercise Training Programs, Aerobic Exercise and High Intensity Interval Training, on the Expression of Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 genes in the Tumor Tissue of Female BALB/c Mice with Breast Cancer

New studies show that inhibiting the growth of tumorsby reducing the expression of angiogenesis factors in various ways, including sports activity, can be a valuable method in controlling the progress of cancer. Galectin-1 and galectin-3 play a vital role in inducing and maintaining tumor angiogenesis. The present research aimed to compare the effect of two selected exercise programs on the expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 genes in the tumor tissue of female balb-c mice with breast cancer.

Twenty-four female balb-c mice were infected with breast tumor by injection of MC4L2 estrogen receptor dependent cancer cells. Then, they were divided into three groups of eight: tumor (T), tumor +aerobic exercise (T+AE), and tumor + high intensity interval training (T+HIIT). The T+AE group performed an aerobic exercise protocol for six weeks, five days a week, and each session lasted 60 minutes. The T+HIIT group performed high intensity interval training protocol three days a week for six weeks, and each session lasted 60 minutes. Finally, mice were anesthetized by injecting ketamine and xylazine, the tumor tissue was removed and frozen in liquid nitrogen. The expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 was measured by Real Time-PCR method, and the results were expressed as fold change at a significant level (P<0.05) with GENEX software.

The results showed that the aerobic exercise protocol had no significant effect on the expression of galectin-1 in the T+AE group, compared to the T group, while it decreased the expression of galectin-3 by 1.70 times (P=0.00). In the T+HIIT group, compared to the T group, the expression of galectin- 1 decreased 3.04 times (P=0.00), and the expression of galectin-3 decreased 6.57 times (P=0.00). In the T+HIIT group, compared to the T+ group, AE, the expression of galectin-1, decreased 2.58 times (P=0.00), and the expression of galectin-3 decreased 3.86 times (P=0.00).

Aerobic exercise by reducing the expression of galectin-3 and high intensity interval training by reducing the expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 are effective in preventing the progression of breast cancer.