REVIEW article

Front. Endocrinol.

Sec. Cancer Endocrinology

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1580559

This article is part of the Research TopicThe Impact of Lipid Metabolism on Cancer Progression and MetastasisView all 4 articles

Modulation of lipid metabolism by exercise: Exploring its potential as a therapeutic target in cancer endocrinology

Provisionally accepted
Seongbeom  CHOISeongbeom CHOI*Haodong  LiuHaodong LiuTong  YangTong Yang
  • Gangneung–Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

Cancer progression is tightly linked to metabolic changes, particularly in lipid metabolism, which is crucial for tumor growth and metastasis. Exercise, known for its health benefits, is gaining recognition for its ability to influence cancer-related lipid metabolism. Metabolic shift prioritizes lipid oxidation over glucose metabolism, hence limiting the energy supply available to tumor cells and reducing their metabolic adaptability. Exercise also enhances mitochondrial function and aids the immune system, further bolstering its anti-cancer effects. Additionally, exercise mitigates cancer-related symptoms like fatigue, improves insulin sensitivity, and counteracts metabolic issues such as cachexia. Despite promising insights from studies, challenges persist in comprehending the molecular mechanisms of exercise's impact on lipid metabolism in cancer.Future research should aim to identify optimal exercise regimens for cancer patients, explore the combined effects of exercise and cancer treatments, and delve into the molecular pathways connecting exercise with tumor suppression. With its potential benefits, exercise could act as a supportive therapy alongside conventional cancer treatments, enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.

Keywords: Cancer, Lipid Metabolism, Exercise, lipid oxidation, cancer treatment

Received: 20 Feb 2025; Accepted: 28 Apr 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 CHOI, Liu and Yang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Seongbeom CHOI, Gangneung–Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea

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