EFFECT OF A PERIOD OF INTERVAL TRAINING ON EXPRESSION OF THE TGF-Β CYTOKINE GENE INDUCING THE EPITHELIAL TO MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION, TUMOR VOLUME, AND CACHEXIA IN MICE WITH BREAST CANCER: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Background & Aims: Deaths from cancer metastases are rising, and the process involved in metastasis is the transmission of epithelial to mesenchymal mood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of interval training on the expression of mesenchyme biomarkers, cachexia, and tumor volume in mice with breast cancer. Materials & Methods: Thirty-two female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: Exercise-Tumor-Exercise, Rest-Tumor-Rest, Rest-Tumor-Exercise, and Exercise-Tumor-Rest. Interval training was performed six weeks before and four weeks after the tumorigenesis. All mice were cancerous by subcutaneous injection of the 4T-1 cell line. Real-time PCR method was used to evaluate the expression of TGF-β. Also, weight test and the Inverted Screen Test were carried out to estimate muscle functions in mice. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and HSD-Post Hoc test with P≥ 0.05. Results: The results showed a significant decrease in gene expressions of TGF-β in Exercise-Tumor-Exercise group in comparison with the Rest-Tumor-Rest group (P=0/005). Remarkable reduction of tumor volume was also observed in two training groups (Rest-Tumor-Exercise, Exercise-Tumor-Exercise) compared to the control group (Rest-Tumor-Rest) (p=0/0001). According to function tests' results, muscle functions were diminished due to cancer (p=0/003). But it should be indicated that interval training can keep muscles in a normally-functioned state in cancer (P=0/045). Conclusion: Considering final results, a period of interval training can be used not only as a prevention method, but also to help cancer treatment and impede cachexia by tumor volume reduction, decrease mesenchymal biomarker gene expressions, and increase muscle strength functions.