A pilot study published in the journal Cancers found that 10 weeks of resistance training normalized immune aging markers in cancer survivors, according to researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The study included eight adult cancer survivors and eight healthy caregivers who served as a comparison group. Participants were at least 18 months post-treatment and met criteria for pre-frailty or frailty before enrolling. Researchers collected blood and stool samples before and after the program to analyze immune-related gene activity, DNA methylation patterns, and gut microbiome changes, according to the report.
Study Design and Methods
The 10-week program included at least one supervised group session per week at a commercial gym, with additional self-directed sessions as schedules allowed. Participants completed an average of 25 sessions over the 10 weeks, according to the researchers. Each program was personalized by a certified trainer and included lower-body, upper-body, and core exercises, with intensity progressed gradually.
Investigators tracked changes in strength and body composition, and collected blood and stool samples before and after the program. The analysis focused on immune-related gene activity, DNA methylation patterns (chemical tags on DNA that influence gene expression), and changes in the gut microbiome. The study's design prioritized accessibility by using a commercial gym rather than a clinical setting, the authors stated.
Key Results: Immune and Strength Outcomes
Before the study began, cancer survivors showed several signs of accelerated immune aging compared to healthy controls, including higher levels of inflammation and fewer naive T cells -- immune cells that help the body respond to new threats. After 10 weeks of resistance training, those immune differences were no longer statistically significant, according to the researchers.
Researchers also observed favorable changes in DNA methylation patterns and the gut microbiome in the survivor group, with many biological differences between survivors and controls diminishing by the end of the program. Both groups more than doubled training volume for exercises such as the squat and shoulder press, with increases of roughly 150 percent. There were no significant differences between cancer survivors and healthy controls in strength gains, according to the report. Most participants also improved body composition, losing fat mass while preserving or gaining lean mass. Exercise is known to influence immune function; prior research has shown that chronic resistance training can improve natural killer cell activity in older women, a factor relevant to cancer surveillance [1]. Additionally, a large-scale Harvard study linked 90 to 119 minutes of weekly weight training to a 19 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease and a 27 percent lower risk of neurological death [2].
Implications and Future Research
The findings suggest resistance training may be a practical intervention to counter chemotherapy-induced immune aging, the study authors stated. Exercise has long been recognized as a tool to slow aging processes; one analysis noted that exercise boosts mitochondrial health and may help resist age-related decline [3]. However, researchers noted limitations including the small sample size and called for larger trials to confirm the results and explore long-term effects.
Despite the preliminary nature of the study, the authors emphasized that even frail cancer survivors were able to achieve meaningful biological improvements within a short timeframe. Prior exercise science indicates that regular physical activity can enhance immune function, including the activation of natural killer cells, which play a role in destroying cancer cells [1]. The current pilot study adds to a growing body of evidence supporting resistance training as a cornerstone of survivorship care.
References
- Rippe James M. "Lifestyle Medicine."
- NaturalNews.com. "Study: 17 Minutes of Daily Weight Training Linked to Lower Risk of Death From Heart Disease, Dementia." June 15, 2026.
- Mercola.com. "The Longer You're Overweight the Greater You." September 16, 2016.
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