Aerobic physical exercise enhances nanoparticle efficacy in prostate cancer treatment

Abstract The effectiveness of drugs currently employed for prostate cancer (PC) can vary, as they may not always yield satisfactory results. Moreover, resistance to these drugs can develop over time, rendering long-term therapy ineffective, depending on the specific type of cancer. The research and clinical application of drug-carrying nanoparticles in various types of cancers is rapidly expanding. Here, we used a nanoemulsion (LDE) as a carrier of docetaxel (DTX). Nevertheless, our testing has demonstrated that the non-pharmacological effects of aerobic physical exercise can enhance the antitumor effects associated with LDE nanoemulsion in the treatment of PC. Aerobic physical exercise demonstrated a potentiation effect on the internalization of LDE nanoparticles. Notably, when combined with LDE+DTX+EX, it resulted in an increased expression of p-16, p-27, p-53, and p-21 compared to the PC group. The LDE-DTX treatment exhibited significant reductions in prostate weight, protected against adenocarcinomas, decreased proliferation, and downregulated the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2, while simultaneously increasing the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein BAX and reduction of the inflammation. Additionally, the LDE+DTX+EX group displayed metabolic regulation, as evidenced by reductions in lipids and plasma glucose levels. These findings collectively highlight the potential benefits of combining LDE, docetaxel, and physical exercise, indicating improved therapeutic outcomes and metabolic regulation in prostate cancer. In conclusion, our findings revealed that the combined treatment of LDE-docetaxel and physical exercise led to an increase in tumor suppressor proteins, which had a significant impact on the phenotype of PC.