Exercise holds significant potential as an adjunct therapy in cancer, extending beyond quality-of-life improvements to influencing tumor progression, treatment response, and survival. Its clinical integration remains limited by variability in models, heterogenous interventions, and the absence of predictive biomarkers. As the field progresses, identifying molecular effectors of exercise, in addition to emphasizing practical clinical translation, is essential. This commentary highlights the anti-tumor effects of exercise and evaluates how exercise can advance from supportive care to a targeted, evidence-based component of cancer treatment.

Pandey et al. identify Cathepsin S (CTSS) as the direct protease that cleaves Gasdermin C (GsdmC) in the intestine. Type 2 immune-promoting microbes trigger CTSS-dependent GsdmC activation in intestin...

Pandey et al. identify Cathepsin S (CTSS) as the direct protease that cleaves Gasdermin C (GsdmC) in the intestine. Type 2 immune-promoting microbes trigger CTSS-dependent GsdmC activation in intestinal epithelial cells, targeting Rab7+ vesicles, altering lipid metabolism, and modulating anti-helminth immunity, revealing a non-pyroptotic function of GsdmC in mucosal immune regulation.

Exercise enhances antitumor immunity and immunotherapy effectiveness by increasing microbiota-derived formate, which boosts CD8 T cell function and may serve as a biomarker of melanoma suppression.

Exercise enhances antitumor immunity and immunotherapy effectiveness by increasing microbiota-derived formate, which boosts CD8 T cell function and may serve as a biomarker of melanoma suppression.

The trial, in people treated for colon cancer, showed clear evidence that an exercise program lowered the risk of disease recurrence and death.