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GEM: Genetics, Exercise, and Methylation

DNA Methylation and Cancer Prevention: Duration and Intensity of Exercise

PI: Dr. Angela Bryan

It is estimated that approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lifetimes, and physical activity decreases risk of breast cancer. However, the optimal amount of physical activity for reducing breast cancer risk, in terms of intensity, duration, and frequency, as well as the mechanism by which exercise produces these beneficial effects, remains unclear.

We have shown that increased physical activity is associated with decreased DNA methylation—a potential biomarker for cancer risk—among healthy adults. The next step is to better understand the dose response relationship of exercise on these epigenetic modifications that may ultimately put a woman at risk for breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of exercise volume on DNA methylation controlling for both intensity and duration of exercise. We focused this study on sedentary women, a group at higher risk for the development of breast cancer than regularly exercising women.