A new study published in Biomolecules found that exercise may help boost the immune system and improve the response to immunotherapy for people diagnosed with mesothelioma or pancreatic cancer. The findings could have important implications for individuals diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases, particularly mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a natural mineral used aggressively during the 20th century in construction and insulation. Many people today have mesothelioma after working for years in specific jobs that required being near or directly handling asbestos.

Because mesothelioma tumors often suppress immune activity, many patients experience limited success with immunotherapy treatments. Researchers say exercise may help change that.

The study, titled “Exercise Boosts the Immune System and Enhances Immunotherapy Responses in Pancreatic Cancer and Mesothelioma,” explores how physical activity affects the body’s immune response to cancer.

 

How Exercise May Help Mesothelioma Patients

Researchers examined the effects of exercise combined with immunotherapy in mouse models with mesothelioma and pancreatic cancer. The study focused on anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, a treatment designed to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells possessing the ability to sync with the protein PD-1.

Mesothelioma cells have a protein called PD-L1, which syncs with PD-1 on immune system cells. These two proteins syncing causes the immune system to reduce activity, allowing mesothelioma cells to exist without restriction. Anti-PD-1 immunotherapy breaks the sync and keeps the immune system alert.

Scientists found that exercise:

  • Increased cancer-fighting immune cells
  • Reduced immune-suppressing cells linked to tumor growth
  • Improved the tumor microenvironment
  • Increased tumor necrosis, or cancer cell death
  • Reduced metastatic potential

In human participants, researchers also observed an increase in natural killer (NK) cells after high-intensity exercise. NK cells play a major role in helping the body destroy abnormal or cancerous cells. They can possess PD-1 protein.

Researchers concluded that exercise may serve as a promising complementary therapy alongside immunotherapy for mesothelioma and other difficult-to-treat cancers.

 

Why Immunotherapy Matters in Mesothelioma Treatment

Immunotherapy has become an increasingly important treatment option for mesothelioma patients. Treatments targeting the PD-1 protein pathway can help the immune system better identify and attack mesothelioma tumors.

However, mesothelioma is often considered an “immunologically cold” cancer, meaning tumors contain low levels of immune cell infiltration. This can make treatment more challenging.

According to the study, exercise appears to help overcome some of these barriers by increasing immune activity within tumors and reducing cells that suppress immune responses.

Although more research is needed, the findings suggest exercise could potentially improve mesothelioma treatment outcomes when combined with immunotherapy.

 

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, a toxic mineral once widely used in construction materials, insulation, shipbuilding, industrial equipment, and manufacturing products.

Workers at increased risk of asbestos exposure include:

  • Construction workers
  • Shipyard workers
  • Oil refinery employees
  • Power plant workers
  • Military veterans
  • Mechanics and insulation workers

Many mesothelioma patients were exposed to asbestos decades before receiving a diagnosis. Symptoms often do not appear for 20-50 years after exposure.

Family members may also develop mesothelioma through secondary asbestos exposure caused by asbestos fibers carried home on clothing, tools, or equipment.

 

Legal Help for Mesothelioma Victims

Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases may be entitled to financial compensation. Mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos trust fund claims may help cover:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Travel costs for treatment
  • Funeral expenses in wrongful death cases

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help investigate where asbestos exposure occurred and determine what legal options may be available.