MedPath

Resistance and Aerobic Exercise for Prevention in Women With Dense Breasts (REP-D)

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Female
Interventions
Behavioral: Exercise Training Program
Registration Number
NCT06322888
Lead Sponsor
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to learn more about how exercise might lower the risk of developing breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue by studying changes that occur in breast tissue and blood as a result of participating in an exercise program.

The names of the study groups in this study are:

* Exercise Training Group

* Waitlist Control Group

Detailed Description

The goal of this study is to learn more about how exercise might lower the risk of developing breast cancer by studying changes that occur in breast tissue and blood as a result of participating in an exercise program. Participants will be placed into one of two study groups: Exercise Training Group vs. Waitlist Control Group. Randomization means that a participant is put into a group by chance.

The research study procedures include screening for eligibility and baseline and end of study assessments which include: breast biopsies, assessment of physical activity habits, aerobic and strength testing, blood draws and questionnaires.

Participants randomized to the exercise group will be expected to participate in exercise sessions throughout the study. They will also be asked to complete logs of their activity.

Participants will be in this research study for up to 16 weeks.

It is expected that 46 women will take part in this study.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is supporting this research study by providing funding.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
46
Inclusion Criteria
  • Women aged 18-59
  • Heterogeneously dense/extremely dense (BIRADS 3 or 4) breast tissue on mammogram within the past 12 months
  • Physically inactive; engaging in <60 minutes of moderate or vigorous intensity exercise per week, as assessed by Godin Leisure Time screener
  • Not pregnant or breastfeeding
  • English speaking and able to read English. Investigators are only enrolling English-speaking participants to this study at this time due to the fact that investigators currently only have English-speaking exercise trainers with the proper qualifications to conduct the exercise training
  • Written informed consent prior to any study-related procedures
Exclusion Criteria
  • Self-reported inability to walk 2 blocks (at any pace)
  • Prior history of breast cancer; prior DCIS is allowable as long as participant is not taking endocrine therapy and has at least 1 breast that has not been irradiated
  • On oral or implantable hormonal contraceptives, postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, a selective estrogen receptor modulator or an aromatase inhibitor; Mirena or other IUD is acceptable
  • Consistent strength training in the past 3 months
  • Use of weightloss drugs
  • Cardiovascular, respiratory or musculoskeletal disease or joint problems that preclude moderate exercise. Examples would include unstable angina, recent myocardial infarction, oxygen-dependent pulmonary disease, and osteoarthritis requiring imminent joint replacement. Moderate arthritis that does not preclude physical activity is not a reason for ineligibility
  • Psychiatric disorders or conditions that would preclude participation in the study intervention (e.g. untreated major depression or psychosis, substance abuse, severe personality disorder)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Arm A: Exercise InterventionExercise Training ProgramParticipants will be randomized and will complete: * Baseline study visit with assessments, breast biopsy, and blood draw. * Exercise program for 12 weeks 3x weekly and exercise logs. Additional blood draw after first exercise session. * End of study visit with assessments, breast biopsy, and blood draw.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Irisin in Exercise GroupAt baseline, within 2 hours of 1st exercise session, and at week 12, up to 16 weeks

Change in circulating irisin at baseline, after 1st exercise session, and end of study in exercise group, and it will be compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing. Irisin will be measured by Parallel Reaction Monitoring in the Spiegelman Lab, using the method described by Jedrychowski.

Change in Irisin in Control GroupAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

Change in circulating irisin at baseline and end of study in control group, and it will be compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing. Irisin will be measured by Parallel Reaction Monitoring in the Spiegelman Lab, using the method described by Jedrychowski.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Tissue Markers in Control GroupAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

Immunofluorescence analysis of immune and proliferative markers from biopsies of benign breast tissue will be assessed through C-detection by indexing (CODEX) imaging for the exercise group and will be compared between treatments using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing. Imaging to be performed by the Molecular Imaging Core (MIC) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

10-Repetition Max Test in Control GroupAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

The 10-Repetition Max Test is defined as the heaviest weight a participants could lift for 10 repetitions. Change and relative percent change will be calculated and compared between treatments using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing.

Change in Minutes of Total Exercise for Exercise GroupUp to 16 weeks

Change in minutes of total exercise and met hours per week (7-day par) will be calculated and compared between treatments using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing. The proportion of participants that achieve 150 minutes of exercise per week by 12 weeks will be compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing and Fisher's exact tests.

Change in Tissue Markers in Exercise GroupAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

Immunofluorescence analysis of immune and proliferative markers from biopsies of benign breast tissue will be assessed through C-detection by indexing (CODEX) imaging for the exercise group and will be compared between treatments using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing. Imaging to be performed by the Molecular Imaging Core (MIC) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Change in Biomarkers in Control Group - Meso ScaleAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

Assessed by assays for inflammatory mediators and will be performed using a Meso Scale Discovery multi-plex analysis system and will be conducted by the Translational Research Laboratory at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Additionally, Mass cytometry (CyTOF) will be used to evaluate a panel of immune mediators and will be performed in conjunction with the Polyak Laboratory. Wilcoxon rank-sum testing will be used to compare between treatments.

Change in Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Control GroupAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

Assessed by VO2 max (i.e., the number of milliliters of oxygen used per kilogram of body weight in one minute (ml/kg/min)), measured using the Sub-Maximal Cycle Ergometer Test, will be calculated and compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing.

10-Repetition Max Test in Exercise GroupAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

The 10-Repetition Max Test is defined as the heaviest weight a participants could lift for 10 repetitions. Change and relative percent change will be calculated and compared between treatments using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing.

Change in Biomarkers in Exercise Group - Mass cytometryAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

Mass cytometry (CyTOF) will be used to evaluate a panel of immune mediators and will be performed in conjunction with the Polyak Laboratory. Wilcoxon rank-sum testing will be used to compare between treatments.

Change in Biomarkers in Control Group - Mass cytometryAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

Mass cytometry (CyTOF) will be used to evaluate a panel of immune mediators and will be performed in conjunction with the Polyak Laboratory. Wilcoxon rank-sum testing will be used to compare between treatments.

Change in Participant Weight in Control GroupAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

Defined as the percent change in weight for Control Group from pretreatment to week 12 will be calculated, summarized, and compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing.

Change in Biomarkers in Exercise Group - Meso scaleAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

Assessed by assays for inflammatory mediators and will be performed using a Meso Scale Discovery multi-plex analysis system and will be conducted by the Translational Research Laboratory at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Change in Participant Weight in Exercise GroupAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

Defined as the percent change in weight for Exercise Group from pretreatment to week 12 will be calculated, summarized, and compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing.

Change in Minutes of Total Exercise for Control GroupUp to 16 weeks

Change in minutes of total exercise and met hours per week (7-day par) will be calculated and compared between treatments using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing. The proportion of participants that achieve 150 minutes of exercise per week by 12 weeks will be compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing and Fisher's exact tests.

Change in Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Exercise GroupAt baseline and week 12, up to 16 weeks

Assessed by VO2 max (i.e., the number of milliliters of oxygen used per kilogram of body weight in one minute (ml/kg/min)), measured using the Sub-Maximal Cycle Ergometer Test, will be calculated and compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Brigham and Women's Hospital

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Dana Farber Cancer Institute

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath