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RecruitingInterventional

All-extremity Exercise as a Novel Strategy for Optimizing Cardiovascular Function During Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

NCT ID: NCT04914663Sponsor: University of FloridaLast updated: 2025-10-01

Summary

Currently, there are 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States and this number is expected to increase dramatically. The proposed research will examine whether a novel exercise intervention for breast cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy protects against cardiovascular dysfunction. Findings may have implications for cardiovascular disease prevention in this population.

Arms & interventions

  • BehavioralExercise training

    Exercise training performed at home under remote live supervision over 12 weeks while patients undergo chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Outcome measures

Primary

  • Change in brachial artery FMD

    Flow mediated dilation (FMD) is an established non-invasive measure of endothelial function. Brachial artery FMD will be determined via ultrasonography in response to reactive hyperemia following 5-min forearm ischemia.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

  • Change in global longitudinal strain

    Global longitudinal strain is a marker of acute subclinical cardiotoxicity and is recommended for monitoring cancer patients at risk of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

  • Feasibility, tolerability and safety of exercise training during breast cancer chemotherapy

    To evaluate the feasibility, tolerability and safety of all-extremity exercise compared with treadmill exercise in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, we will collect comprehensive information throughout the exercise intervention: completed vs. planned exercise dose (intensity/session, min/session, sessions/week), reasons for missed/partially completed sessions or study withdrawal, adverse events, and disease- and treatment-related outcomes. To specifically evaluate safety, should an adverse event occur, plans are in place for determination and monitoring according to the most recent National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Classification for seriousness, expectedness, severity and relationship to study intervention will be based on the NIH provided definitions.

    Time frame: Monitored throughout the 12 weeks of intervention

Eligibility criteria

Sex: FemaleAge: 18 Years to 85 YearsHealthy volunteers: No
Inclusion Criteria: * Active diagnosis of primary invasive non-metastatic breast cancer, stages I-III * Female * 18 to 85 years of age * Scheduled to initiate neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy (anthracycline, alkylating agent and/or taxane) * Absence of contraindications to exercise * Study clinician approval * Able to give consent * Informed consent obtained from the subject and documentation of subject agreement to comply with study-related process Exclusion Criteria: * Do not meet inclusion criteria * Receiving targeted therapies (CDK4/6 or PARP inhibitors) * Receiving radiation therapy concurrent with chemotherapy * Lymphedema stage ≥ 2 prior to study enrollment * Any relevant cardiovascular diseases (stroke, heart failure, myocardial ischemia during maximal graded exercise test, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary artery bypass surgery or angioplasty or coronary stent) * Current participation in other experimental interventions that may confound interpretation of study findings (e.g., dietary intervention for weight loss)

Study locations (1)

Integrative Cardiovasculal Physiology Laboratory, University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida, 32611

Recruiting
Demetra Christou, PhD · Contact
352-294-1746ddchristou@ufl.edu