Mhairi A. Morris’s work brings together cancer biology and exercise science, asking a powerful question: can physical activity actually change how cancer behaves?

In her most recent study together with Marie-Juliet Brown, Matt Nickels and Elizabeth C. Akam (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44164-023-00055-y), they looked at how blood serum from different groups of people affected breast cancer cells in the lab. The results were striking: serum from older inactive individuals made the cancer cells much more invasive compared to serum from younger people. But when the serum came from older endurance runners, this age-related effect completely disappeared. In other words, long-term endurance training seemed to protect against the harmful changes that normally come with ageing, even at the cellular level.

Earlier, in a large review of clinical studies (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-07446-3), Morris together with Jonathon Mok, Marie-Juliet Brown, Elizabeth C. Akam,  showed that structured exercise programs during breast cancer treatment not only boost fitness but also help with fatigue, mental wellbeing, and quality of life. The biggest benefits came when resistance and endurance training were combined.

Together, her research paints a clear picture: regular exercise isn’t just good for staying healthy, it may also reduce the aggressiveness of cancer and improve how patients feel during treatment. It highlights the powerful role of movement as part of both cancer care and prevention.

Don’t miss Mhairi A. Morris’s session on September 30th to dive deeper into her latest findings.

#3DEvent #CancerResearch #CancerAwareness #ExerciseOncology #ActiveAgainstCancer #MoveForHealth