REVIEW article
Front. Oncol.
Sec. Cancer Molecular Targets and Therapeutics
Volume 15 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1638060
This article is part of the Research TopicMechanistic Roles of Exercise on Cancer Progression, Recurrence and Survival OutcomesView all 4 articles
Physical Activity and Glioblastoma: A Paradigm Shift in Neuro-Oncology Therapy
Provisionally accepted
Lin Xie1
Feng Wang2*- 1Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China
- 2Department of Surgery and Anesthesiology, Cancer Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with a poor prognosis, characterized by rapid progression and limited treatment options. This review explores the emerging role of physical activity as a complementary therapy in GBM management, focusing on its multifaceted effects on tumor biology, immune modulation, and patient quality of life. Exercise has been shown to influence key molecular pathways involved in GBM progression, including the RTK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling cascade, angiogenesis, and metabolic reprogramming.Additionally, physical activity enhances immune surveillance by mobilizing cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, while reducing immunosuppressive cells like Tregs and MDSCs. Clinical and preclinical evidence suggests that exercise may improve cognitive function, reduce treatmentrelated toxicity, and prolong survival in GBM patients. Despite these promising findings, significant gaps remain in understanding the optimal exercise regimens and their mechanistic underpinnings. Future research should prioritize personalized approaches, integration with novel therapies, and multi-omics analyses to elucidate exercise-induced changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME). This review underscores the potential of physical activity to revolutionize neuro-oncology therapy, offering a paradigm shift in GBM treatment strategies.
Keywords: Glioblastoma, physical activity, Neuro-Oncology, Brain tumor therapy, neuroplasticity, Tumor Microenvironment
Received: 30 May 2025; Accepted: 14 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Xie and Wang. 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: Feng Wang, Department of Surgery and Anesthesiology, Cancer Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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