The Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Circulating T-Cells and NK-Cells in Colorectal Cancer Survivors: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial
- 1AdventHealth, Orlando, FL, USA
- 2Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
- 3LSU School of Kinesiology, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Abstract
Introduction: Aerobic exercise improves disease-free and overall survival in patients with colorectal cancer. This study tested the hypothesis that a key mechanism of action underpinning these survival benefits relates to exercise-induced improvements in inflammation and immunity in colorectal cancer survivors.
Methods: This trial randomized 60 survivors of stage I-III colorectal cancer to 12 weeks of home-based aerobic exercise or control. Endpoints included plasma sCD30, sGP130, IL-1β, and IL-2 measured using bead-based magnetic immunoassays, and the frequencies of circulating T-cell [CD4+ and CD8+ naïve, central memory, effector memory, and terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA)] and NK-cell subsets quantified by flow cytometry.
Results: Exercise training reduced sCD30 [−153.1 pg/mL (95% CI: −249.5, −56.7); p=0.014] but did not reduce sGP130, IL-1β, or IL-2 compared to control. Exercise training increased the proportions of resting NKG2D−/NKG2C+ NK-cells [2.75% (95% CI: 0.34, 5.15); p=0.03] and CD56+ bright KLRG1−/NKG2C+ NK-cells [4.46% (95% CI: 1.32, 7.60); p=0.006] compared to control. In the control group, sCD30 inversely correlated with naive CD8+ T-cells [r=−0.51 (95% CI: −0.82, 0.03); p=0.04], whereas sGP130 [r=0.46 (95% CI: −0.09, 0.72); p=0.01] and IL-2 positively correlated with CD8+ TEMRA frequencies [r=0.50 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.78); p=0.02]; these associations were not statistically significant in the exercise group.
Conclusion: In this secondary, exploratory analysis of a randomized trial, aerobic exercise reshaped aspects of the inflammatory-immune axis in colorectal cancer survivors. These findings refine our understanding of the biological mechanisms by which exercise may improve disease-free and overall survival in colon cancer survivors.
Related
- Laser Therapy for Sexual Health in Breast Cancer Survivors Receiving Aromatase Inhibitors : A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial
- Factors Associated with Patient Interest in a Digital Exercise and Mind–Body Program for Patients Undergoing Active Cancer Treatment: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial
- Cardiovascular exercise mitigates inflammation in the early subacute phase of stroke recovery: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
- Clinical similarity, economic divergence: cost-effectiveness and population health implications of dietary, pharmacological, and exercise interventions in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.
- Glucoregulatory and Inflammatory Trajectories in Pregnancy with Obesity: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Exercise Trial
BibTeX
@article{cho2026impact,
title = {{The Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Circulating T-Cells and NK-Cells in Colorectal Cancer Survivors: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial}},
author = {Eunhan Cho and Stephanie L. E. Compton and Shengping Yang and Mohamedtaki A. Tejani and Ahmed Zakari and Justin C. Brown and Guillaume Spielmann},
journal = {Cancer Control: Journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1177/10732748261493127},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748261493127},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Circulating T-Cells and NK-Cells in Colorectal Cancer Survivors: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial
AU - Eunhan Cho
AU - Stephanie L. E. Compton
AU - Shengping Yang
AU - Mohamedtaki A. Tejani
AU - Ahmed Zakari
AU - Justin C. Brown
AU - Guillaume Spielmann
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
JO - Cancer Control: Journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center
DO - 10.1177/10732748261493127
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748261493127
AB - Introduction: Aerobic exercise improves disease-free and overall survival in patients with colorectal cancer. This study tested the hypothesis that a key mechanism of action underpinning these survival benefits relates to exercise-induced improvements in inflammation and immunity in colorectal cancer survivors. Methods: This trial randomized 60 survivors of stage I-III colorectal cancer to 12 weeks of home-based aerobic exercise or control. Endpoints included plasma sCD30, sGP130, IL-1β, and IL-2 measured using bead-based magnetic immunoassays, and the frequencies of circulating T-cell [CD4+ and CD8+ naïve, central memory, effector memory, and terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA)] and NK-cell subsets quantified by flow cytometry. Results: Exercise training reduced sCD30 [−153.1 pg/mL (95% CI: −249.5, −56.7); p=0.014] but did not reduce sGP130, IL-1β, or IL-2 compared to control. Exercise training increased the proportions of resting NKG2D−/NKG2C+ NK-cells [2.75% (95% CI: 0.34, 5.15); p=0.03] and CD56+ bright KLRG1−/NKG2C+ NK-cells [4.46% (95% CI: 1.32, 7.60); p=0.006] compared to control. In the control group, sCD30 inversely correlated with naive CD8+ T-cells [r=−0.51 (95% CI: −0.82, 0.03); p=0.04], whereas sGP130 [r=0.46 (95% CI: −0.09, 0.72); p=0.01] and IL-2 positively correlated with CD8+ TEMRA frequencies [r=0.50 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.78); p=0.02]; these associations were not statistically significant in the exercise group. Conclusion: In this secondary, exploratory analysis of a randomized trial, aerobic exercise reshaped aspects of the inflammatory-immune axis in colorectal cancer survivors. These findings refine our understanding of the biological mechanisms by which exercise may improve disease-free and overall survival in colon cancer survivors.
SN - 1073-2748
SN - 1526-2359
ER -