EXERT-BCH Exercise Regimen to Improve Muscle Mass After Treatment of Breast Cancer

Allegheny Health Network (AHN)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Breast Cancer; Breast Cancer Female; Breast Carcinoma in Situ

Treatments: Other: Control Arm ACSM Guidelines; Other: Experimental Arm 6-12-25 repetitions per set

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06115486

EXERT-BCH

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the outcomes of two standard of care group exercise regimens to increase muscle mass in women who have been treated with breast cancer.

Full description

This protocol seeks to analyze patient outcomes of two standard of care, time-efficient, monitored group exercise regimens of high-load resistance training to improve hypertrophy in women who have been treated for ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma of the breast.

As part of the standard exercise program, patients will undergo a fitness evaluation at the AHNCI Exercise Oncology and Resiliency Center before the start of the exercise program. This evaluation will be used to customize the patient exercise program. The exercise program consists of small group training sessions held approximately 3 times per week at the center for 12 weeks (3 months). The fitness evaluation and exercise program are standard of care. Participation in this study will last the duration of the exercise program, about 3 months. All group exercise sessions will be closely monitored by the center staff who are Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS).

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 20 to 89 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Age 20-89 years

• Women with a biopsy proven diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma of the breast
• Women must have undergone treatment for breast cancer, including one or more of the following: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or hormonal therapy. Women undergoing active chemotherapy are not allowed on study. Immunotherapy or targeted agent usage is allowed.

Exclusion criteria

• Any current treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy for breast cancer
• Inability to safely engage in group sessions of resistance training as deemed by study PI
• Severe arthritic, joint, cardiovascular, or musculoskeletal condition deemed by PI to be unsafe to engage in resistance training

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Control Arm / ACSM Guidelines

Other group

Description:

The control group will follow resistance training guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) with the goal of promoting hypertrophy

Treatment:

Other: Control Arm ACSM Guidelines

Experimental Arm / EOC Guidelines

Experimental group

Description:

The experimental group will use a regimen that is often used by strength and conditioning coaches to maximize hypertrophy, and is part of the standard regimens at the Exercise Oncology Center (EOC)

Treatment:

Other: Experimental Arm 6-12-25 repetitions per set