Abstract
Immunotherapy has emerged as a crucial approach in cancer treatment, particularly through targeting immune checkpoints such as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1). Blocking antibodies against PD-1/PD-L1 have demonstrated the potential to activate tumor-specific immune cells, particularly CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Recently, research in exercise oncology has underscored the role of physical activity in augmenting immune function in cancer settings. This study explored the combined impact of aerobic exercise and anti-PD-L1 antibody administration on immunological and physiological responses in a murine breast cancer model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty female BALB/c mice were divided into five experimental groups: Patient control group (n=6), Exercise+induction+ control (n=6), Exercise+induction+exercise (n=6), Exercise+induction+anti-PD-L1 (n=6), and Exercise induction exercise + anti-PD-L1 (n=6). After a treadmill acclimation period, mice underwent two 6-week initial training protocols, followed by an additional 4-week protocol post-tumor induction. Following tumor induction, the PD-L1anti-PD-L1 antibody was administered. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to evaluate experimental variables. RESULTS: Statistical analyses showed that, relative to the PCG, mice receiving the combined intervention of EIE and EIE + A displayed higher intratumoral CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell densities and smaller final tumor volumes. Similar but less pronounced trends were observed in the EIE and EIE+A. CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the current design, the combination of aerobic exercise with PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade was associated with increased tumor-infiltrating CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell density and reduced tumor burden. These findings suggest a potential interaction that warrants evaluation in future studies incorporating a PD-L1-monotherapy group to clarify independent and combined effects.