Exercise and IGF-1 and her2??????

[Donna]

Hi Amazing Group,

I was just reading an article in Newsweek about how aerobic exercise sends out IGF-1 through the bloodstream and it passes the blood brain barrier. That sent out a red flag to me because I seemed to remember that IGF-1 is one of the chemicals suspected to cause Herceptin resistance. When I looked it up in PubMed, they do say this, but they list it as IGF-1 and also IGF-1-R - saying it does in fact contribute to Herceptin resistance.

My question is this: EVERY single thing I have read about cancer says that exercise is the single most important non-medicinal thing you can do to help combat this disease - BUT - if exercise produces IGF-1, are we actually doing more harm than good? Any chemistry savvy members out there know the answer to this?

Thanks - and have a great day!

Donna

[Racheal]

Much research indicates exercise is effective for preventing relapse of bc in Negative receptor bc. I think exercise also decreases rather than increases the IGFR, at least that's what I think I have read. You may want to check that out.

[Donna]

Hi Racheal,

According to this article, every time a muscle contracts it sends out the protein IGF-1 into the bloodstream. This is all very confusing. I just want to know if I should be exercising or not - It makes intuitive sense to exercise and be healthier - I just want to be sure.

Thanks,

Donna

[MCS]

Thanks for putting this in. I started walking around the block a couple of times a week during herceptin because I noticed that my muggas did better when I did.


I also use exercise to reduce stress but if it means herceptin resisitance or protein built, I'l be the couch potato!

Maybe Becky knows s ometing about this.

XOXOX

MCS ( maria)

[Karen Weixel]

I googled in IGF - 1 and exercise... everything I read said that exercise did not make a difference. I am going to ask the man I go to for accupuncture what he thinks.

Karen

[Becky]

If Newsweek stated that IGF-1 causes cancer or Herceptin resistance, they may not have fully understood the concept and miswrote.


SOME cancers, including bc, can have an overexpression of IGFR (R is for receptor like ER for estrogen receptor). We need IGF (just like we need Her2 protein) but with too many receptors, cancer can grow out of control. So, let's say that you are Her2+ and IGFR+. The Herceptin works on the Her2 but nothing is working on the IGFR. If your cancer comes back, you might say that you had Herceptin resistance but in reality, your cancer is just growing via another pathway.

IGF-1 is controlled and normalized by three things - proper low glycemic diet, normal to subnormal weight and most IMPORTANTLY exercise (which normalizes insulin production and use).

So, exercise is very important. So get those walking shoes on!

[Donna]

Hi Becky and All,

Newsweek didn't say anything about herceptin, I made the connection. I had just read that IGF-1 played a part in herceptin resistance - and again, unless I am reading it wrong and that is possible, what I read in PubMed supports this.

What Newsweek article said was that exercise, basically any time you contract a muscle, you are producing the protein IGF-1 - more of it when you do aerobic excercises.

I am more confused now. Bummer.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Donna

[Becky]

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=18163

http://www.utexas.edu/features/2006/obesity/index.html

http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu/resources/article.cfm?c=3&s=38&ss=150&id=341

http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/8388.html

http://www.dana-farber.org/abo/news/publications/turning-point/summer-fall-2004/exercise.asp

Here are articles that might help.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Becky, thanks for all the articles. It took all of them to begin to help me understand why there are so many conflicts in diet and exercise recommendations. I can see that by eating less protein and more fruit, vegs, fiber, beans, etc. and walking each day would keep me healthier. thanks for taking time to put them all up for us. ma

[Karen Weixel]

Becky,

Thank you very much for all of the information. I walk/run at least 25=30 miles a week, now and during my year of Herceptin treatments.

Karen

[Donna]

Wow Becky - thanks! this really clarifies this issue for me. Back to the gym for sure! And back on the diet, too. Those articles were good reading and very recent too - thanks for taking the time to post them, I was so confused by what I was able to find on the subject.

Happy Easter!