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The Effects of Two Exercise Interventions on Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Cardiotoxic Chemotherapies

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Breast Cancer
Cardiotoxicity
Cardiovascular Diseases
Interventions
Behavioral: High Intensity Interval Exercise
Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Walking
Registration Number
NCT05786014
Lead Sponsor
University of Virginia
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if exercise preconditioning can mitigate the off target effects of chemotherapy treatment on measures of cardiovascular function, inflammatory responses, and quality of life.

Detailed Description

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women in the US and survivors experience long-term health effects of chemotherapy. Exercise training is an efficacious treatment for preserving functional capacity and has shown promise in mitigating cardiac toxicity of breast cancer chemotherapy. However, supervised exercise is not a practical solution for all breast cancer survivors, as medically monitored exercise facilities are poorly dispersed in the US and poorly utilized by cancer patients. To improve reach of these programs, remotely monitoring exercise sessions may be necessary. However, effects of remotely-monitored exercise conditioning before and during adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy on cardiotoxic outcomes are unknown. Our study aims to address this gap by testing the feasibility of two types of remotely-monitored exercise interventions, an exercise bicycle intervention compared to a brisk walking intervention, in 20 UVA Breast Cancer Clinic patients undergoing cardiotoxic chemotherapies. Remotely-monitored exercise training will start one week prior to chemotherapy (preconditioning) and continue throughout adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (which is typically 4 months in duration). Our multidisciplinary research team proposes four aims: 1) Determine the extent to which eligible patients can be successfully recruited, randomized, and retained; 2) Assess VO2peak, echocardiography derived left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular global longitudinal strain among these patients at baseline and at \~4 months; 3) Examine treatment engagement and intervention acceptability; and 4) Explore the relationship between engagement in the exercise training and psychosocial function.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
25
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 18 years or over
  • diagnosis of breast cancer (Stage I-III or IV with minimal burden) and prescribed chemotherapy (TC (Docetaxel/Cyclophosphamide), AC (Doxorubicin/Cyclophosphamide followed by Paclitaxel), TCHP (Docetaxel, Carboplatin, Trastuzumab, Pertuzumab), TCH (Docetaxel/Carboplatin/Trastuzumab) with or without Pembrolizumab)
  • Physician clearance for exercise training
  • Speak/understand English
Exclusion Criteria
  • previous treatment with cardiotoxic chemotherapy
  • medical/orthopedic comorbidities that preclude stationary cycling
  • significant cardiac/renal/hepatic/hematological/pulmonary disease precluding exercise training
  • unstable angina or myocardial infarction within 4-weeks prior to treatment
  • complex ventricular arrhythmias or New York Heart Association class IV symptoms
  • symptomatic severe aortic stenosis
  • acute pulmonary embolus
  • acute myocarditis
  • History of untreated high-risk proliferative retinopathy
  • History of retinal hemorrhage
  • uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 180 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure > 120 mm Hg)
  • severe baseline electrolyte abnormalities
  • medication non-compliance
  • uncontrolled metabolic disease (diabetes with fasting blood sugar >300 mg/dl, thyrotoxicosis, myxedema)
  • symptomatic peripheral vascular disease
  • Pregnant women

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
High Intensity Interval ExerciseHigh Intensity Interval ExerciseSubjects will receive a recumbent bike to be delivered and assembled to their home as well as a heart rate monitor and activity tracker. Subjects will undergo high intensity interval exercise 3 days a week, with the goal of achieving 85-90% of their heart rate max. Subjects will also be receiving text messages, phone calls, and emails from study staff to gauge and encourage subject participation and physical activity.
Moderate Intensity WalkingModerate Intensity WalkingSubjects allocated to moderate intensity walking will be given a gift card to purchase a paid of running shoes. A chest-based heart rate monitor and an activity tracker watch will be provided. Subjects will aim to achieve 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity walking. Subjects will also be receiving text messages, phone calls, and emails from study staff to gauge and encourage subject participation and physical activity.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Subject Retention Percentage22 Weeks

This is a feasibility study designed to determine the extent to which eligible patients can be successfully recruited, randomized, and retained. Endpoint data will be used to justify and provide point estimates for a fully powered study. Retention will be measured as a percentage of those enrolled who complete the study interventions.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Diastolic Function22 Weeks

E' and A' (cm/s) will be used to calculate the E'/A' ratio to assess for diastolic dysfunction and be measured by echocardiogram at pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy

Ejection Fraction22 Weeks

Ejection fraction (%) will be used to assess changes in cardiac contractile function and be measured by echocardiogram at pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy

Brachial Artery Endothelium-Dependent Flow-Mediated Dilation22 Weeks

Changes in endothelial function as measured by brachial artery endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (%) at pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy

VO2peak22 Weeks

Change in VO2peak (L/min) measured at pre-chemotherapy and post chemotherapy

Global Longitudinal Strain22 Weeks

Global longitudinal strain (%) will be used to assess changes in cardiac contractile function and be measured by echocardiogram at pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy

Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity22 Weeks

Changes in arterial stiffness as measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (m/s) at pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy

Inflammation/Immune cell concentrations in peripheral circulation.22 Weeks

Various markers of inflammation and immune cells will be measured at baseline, pre-chemo (following exercise pre-conditioning), midway through patient's prescribed treatment, and post-intervention to determine changes.

Blood pressure22 Weeks

Brachial systolic and diastolic blood pressures (mmHg) will be measured at baseline and post-chemotherapy.

Lipid panels22 Weeks

A lipid panel will be performed to measure total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, and low-density lipoprotein (mg/dl) to assess changes in cardiometabolic health at pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Virginia University Hospital

🇺🇸

Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

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