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Aerobic and Strength Training Exercise in Improving Fitness and Arm Health During and After Radiation Therapy in Patients With Stage II-III Breast Cancer

Can Aerobic and Strength Training Exercise Initiated During and Continued After Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer Improve Fitness and Arm Health 1 Year Later?

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03102866
Enrollment
4
Registered
2017-04-06
Start date
2017-08-30
Completion date
2019-04-04
Last updated
2023-12-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Stage IIA Breast Cancer, Stage IIB Breast Cancer, Stage II Breast Cancer, Stage IIIA Breast Cancer, Stage IIIB Breast Cancer, Stage III Breast Cancer, Stage IIIC Breast Cancer

Brief summary

This randomized pilot phase I/II trial studies how well aerobic and strength training exercise works in improving fitness and arm health during and after radiation therapy consisting of regional nodal radiation in patients with stage II-III breast cancer. Aerobic and strength training exercise training during and after radiation therapy may reduce treatment related toxicities and improve adherence to exercise long term in patients with breast cancer.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the feasibility of conducting an exercise program during and after radiation therapy and to determine what percent of patients will complete the exercise program. (Pilot) II. To determine the percent increase in fitness as measured by the 6 minute walk test in women receiving radiation therapy for breast cancer randomized to an exercise program at 1 year. (Phase II) SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Percent adherence to exercise at 1 year as measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and exercise logs. II. Subjective arm health at 1 year as measured by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Questionnaire for Breast Cancer version 4 (FACT-B+4). III. Arm lymphedema at 1 year as measured by arm circumference. IV. Arm range of motion at 1 year as measured by goniometry. V. Quality of life at 1 year as measured by FACT-B+4. VI. Percent increase in arm strength as measured by one repetition maximum at 1 year. VII. Change in weight and body mass index (BMI) 1 year after completion of radiation. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Patients receive usual care for 6 weeks during radiation therapy and for 12 weeks after completion of radiation therapy. ARM II: Patients undergo a supervised aerobic and strength training exercise session over 40-60 minutes 3 times weekly for 6 weeks during radiation therapy and for 12 weeks after completion of radiation therapy. After completion of study, patients are followed up at 1 year.

Interventions

OTHERBest Practice

Receive usual care

BEHAVIORALExercise Intervention

Undergo aerobic and strength training exercise

OTHERQuality-of-Life Assessment

Ancillary studies

OTHERQuestionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

Sponsors

Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Stage II-III breast cancer * Prior surgery including lumpectomy or mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection * Prior chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting * Radiation plan consisting of regional nodal radiation * Must be suitable for an exercise program

Exclusion criteria

* Serious underlying medical comorbidity such as uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, psychiatric illness, or any other condition for which the patient is not approved for exercise by their physician * Physical handicap that would prevent participation in program * Patients with metastatic breast cancer

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of participants who complete 70% of all exercise sessions throughout the supervised program during and after radiation therapy (Pilot)Up to 1 yeardetermine the feasibility of conducting an exercise program during and after radiation therapy and to determine what percent of patients will complete the exercise program.
Percent increase in fitness as measured by the 6 minute walk test in patients randomized to exercise program (Phase II)At 1 yearWill be compared to usual care group.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Arm lymphedema as measured by arm circumferenceBaseline up to 1 yearLymphedema will be classified into 3 stages. Stage I edema is reversible and characterized by pitting edema, increase in arm girth, and heaviness. Stage II is characterized by a spongy consistency of the arm without pitting edema. Stage III is the most advanced stage, lymphostatic elephantiasis
Arm range of motion as measured by goniometryBaseline up to 1 yearShoulder flexion, external and internal rotation, and abduction will be measured.
Change in weight and BMIBaseline up to 1 yearBMI will be measured to evaluate body composition using the metric formula weight (kg)/ height 2 (m2).
Percent adherence to exercise as measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and exercise logsBaseline up to 1 yearDuration of exercise will be calculated based on questionnaire and exercise log. Percentage of exercise adherence at 1-year follow-up will be compared between two groups. Generalized linear models will be utilized to model follow-up as a function of baseline and group.
Percent increase in arm strength as measured by one repetition maximumBaseline up to 1 yearChange in strength from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up will be obtained.
Quality of life as measured by FACT-B+4Baseline up to 1 yearThe FACT B + 4 has been shown to have good internal consistency and stability. It is a 40 item Likert scale questionnaire with subscales (0 - 4) for physical well being, social/family well being, emotional well being, function well being, and 4 specific questions related to arm symptoms.
Subjective arm health as measured by FACT-B+4Baseline up to 1 yearThe FACT B + 4 has been shown to have good internal consistency and stability. It is a 40 item Likert scale questionnaire with subscales (0 - 4) for physical well being, social/family well being, emotional well being, function well being, and 4 specific questions related to arm symptoms.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026