Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer in the U.S. and risk is increased by lifestyle factors such as poor diet and physical inactivity. Also, CRC patients are highly susceptible to developing cachexia, which is characterized by muscle wasting, fatigue, weakness, and immune function impairments, that lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Studies have shown that aerobic and resistance training, independently, can effectively attenuate the deleterious effects of cachexia, and though research on concurrent training is limited, studies are reporting that combined exercise positively affects muscle wasting. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise training on markers of cachexia to determine if aerobic training (TM), resistance training (RT), or combined training (TM+RT) would be most effective. METHODS: Male Balb/c mice were randomly assigned to SED (n = 24) or EX (n = 36) groups. EX mice were further allocated to either TM (n = 12), RT (n = 12), or TM+RT (n = 12). After 5 weeks of EX, 12 SED and all EX mice were inoculated with C26 cells; EX continued for 3 additional weeks before mice were sacrificed. Cachexia was assessed via histochemical/biochemical analyses and forelimb grip strength. RESULTS: Cachexia was induced in Sed+Tumor, evidenced by significant changes in body mass (P < 0.05; -14%), gastrocnemius mass (P < 0.01; -16%), gastrocnemius cross sectional area (CSA) (P < 0.05; -35%), forelimb grip strength (P < 0.01; -18%), splenomegaly (P < 0.01; +83%), and plasma IL-6 (P < 0.01; +211%). Moreover, MHCIIa and IIb atrophied similarly in Sed+Tumor mice. All exercise groups had significant improvements in all examined markers of cachexia when compared to Sed+Tumor, with the exception of gastrocnemius mass (P > 0.05). Additionally, RT significantly improved relative grip strength versus all other groups (P < 0.05). Overall myofiber CSA increased significantly with all EX modes (P < 0.05). Finally, systemic inflammation was significantly decreased in all EX groups, as evident by decreases in spleen mass and plasma IL-6 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These data support past literature in that exercise provides significant benefit to cachectic mice, and this may be due, in part, to decreased systemic inflammation. Specifically, RT, alone and with TM, provided the most benefit.