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Combined Modality Exercise and Appetite in Breast Cancer Survivors

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effects of Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study (the CARE Study)

Status
Terminated
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04576247
Acronym
CARE
Enrollment
3
Registered
2020-10-06
Start date
2020-06-05
Completion date
2021-09-20
Last updated
2022-06-03

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

Conditions

Breast Cancer Female, Overweight and Obesity

Brief summary

The overall aim of this research is to assess the feasibility of a 12-week combined aerobic exercise (AEx) and resistance exercise (REx) intervention and elucidate the impact of AEx/REx on several physiological and behavioral components of energy balance among breast cancer survivors (BCS).

Interventions

The 12-week intervention will build upon an ongoing resistance exercise program for cancer patients and survivors at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Health and Wellness Center. Resistance exercise will be led by certified cancer exercise specialists who provide individualized exercise programs to cancer patients and survivors. Exercise sessions are progressive, target all major muscle groups, are 50 minutes in duration, and completed 2x/week. The intervention will also include 3 self-directed moderate-intensity aerobic exercise sessions/week, building to 50 minutes at 60% heart rate maximum (determined at baseline). Target exercise will be achieved by a gradual progression of exercise duration over the first four weeks of the program.

Sponsors

Colorado Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute
CollaboratorOTHER
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
University of Colorado, Denver
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE

Masking description

Masking is not possible because this is a single-arm exercise study.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Female sex * Age: 18 - 45 years * Body mass index \[BMI\]: 25 - 35 kg/m2 * Pre-menopausal before cancer diagnosis and treatment * \<1 hour/week of planned physical activity by self-report in the previous 12 months * Diagnosis of primary stage I - III estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor-positive (ER/PR+) breast cancer, according to institutional standards. * All chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery completed at least two weeks (14 days), but less than 6 months prior to registration

Exclusion criteria

* Self-reported diabetes mellitus, untreated/uncontrolled thyroid disease, history of cardiovascular disease or symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular disease (chest pain, shortness of breath at rest or with mild exertion, syncope), cancer diagnosis in the last 5 years before breast cancer (any site, excluding skin cancer), or any other medical condition affecting weight or energy metabolism. * Uncontrolled hypertension defined as: systolic blood pressure \>160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \>100mmHg, as measured during the screening visit. Participants who are deemed ineligible based upon uncontrolled hypertension criteria will be referred to their primary care physicians for treatment. If this condition becomes controlled they will be allowed to be re-evaluated for inclusion in the current trial. * Unable to exercise due to cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, orthopedic reasons. * Currently smoking and/or nicotine use. * Treatment with medications known to significantly affect appetite, weight, energy intake or expenditure in the last 3 months (e.g. appetite suppressants, lithium, stimulants, anti-psychotics, tricyclic antidepressants). * Corticosteroid use within the last two weeks * History of surgical procedure for weight loss at any time (e.g. gastroplasty, gastric bypass, gastrectomy or partial gastrectomy, adjustable banding, gastric sleeve); history of extensive bowel resection for other reasons * Currently pregnant, lactating or less than 6 months post-partum. * Score of ≥ 2 on the CAGE (cut-annoyed-guilty-eye opener) questionnaire adapted to include drug use55 * Score of \> 20 on the Eating Attitude Test - 26 (EATS-26), indicative of disordered eating. Participants with a score \>20 on the EATS-26 will be referred to their primary care physician for further evaluation. * Significant food intolerances/allergies that cannot be accommodated by the University of Colorado Hospital Clinical Translational Research Center Metabolic Kitchen. * Currently participating in any formal weight loss or physical activity programs or clinical trials for weight loss. * Other medical, psychiatric, or behavioral limitations that may interfere with participation (as determined by study physician). * Unable or unwilling to undergo study procedures

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Intervention acceptability12 weeksSubjective ability to adhere to combined AEx/REx
Exercise enjoymentChanges across weeks 4, 8, and 12Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale; 8 items; range: 7-56, with higher scores indicating higher exercise enjoyment
Objective exercise adherence12 weeksAdherence to additional study-specific AEx will be tracked through heart rate monitor data, logs of attendance, and participant diaries and compared to the REx-only intervention
Subjective exercise adherenceChanges across weeks 4, 8, and 12Participants will be asked to rate on a 1-10 Likert scale: 1) how adherent they were to the prescribed exercise over the past week, 2) how difficult it was to adhere to the prescribed exercise over the past week, and 3) how likely they feel they can adhere to the prescribed exercise for the next month.
Recruitment and enrollment feasibilityThrough study completion, up to two yearsNumber of individuals approached, meeting inclusion criteria, reasons for exclusion, and enrolled in the study
Exercise self efficacyChanges across weeks 4, 8, and 12Self Efficacy for Exercise Scale; 9 items; score range: 0-9, with higher scores indicating higher exercise self-efficacy

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in physical activityBaseline, 12 weeksStep count measured by accelerometers
Changes in ghrelinBaseline, 12 weeksFasting ghrelin, ghrelin area under the curve in response to a control meal
Changes in peptide-YY (PYY)Baseline, 12 weeksFasting PYY, PYY area under the curve in response to a control meal
Changes in subjective appetite ratingsBaseline, 12 weeksChanges in hunger, satiety, and prospective food consumption via visual analog scales
Changes in ad libitum energy intakeBaseline, 12 weeksEnergy intake from buffet-style meal
Changes in sedentary behaviorBaseline, 12 weeksTime in sedentary activities measured by accelerometers

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in resting energy expenditureBaseline, 12 weeksResting energy expenditure measured by metabolic cart and adjusted for body composition changes
Changes in fatigueBaseline, 12 weeksMeasured by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness and Therapy - Fatigue; 13 questions; score range: 0-52, with higher score indicating higher fatigue
Changes in body compositionBaseline, 12 weeksFat mass and fat-free mass in kg, measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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