Exercise-Mediated Protection Against Brain Metastases

Clinical evidence indicates that moderate to vigorous exercise is a powerful means to reduce metastatic cancer incidence. However, the mechanisms of this beneficial influence are not fully understood. Our present application is specially focused on the mechanisms of tumor call extravasation into the brain. Such an emphasis on brain metastases is consistent with our interest in the blood-brain barrier physiology and pathology. In addition, brain metastases are on of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. The central hypothesis of the present application is that exercise protects against the development of blood-borne brain metastases by increasing antioxidant capacity and modulating redox-regulated responses in the capillary endothelium.