Can a fitbit and app get metastatic breast cancer patients moving?
NCT ID NCT07840599
First seen Sep 25, 2026 · Last updated Sep 25, 2026
Summary
Researchers at Northwestern University are testing which parts of a digital health program help women with metastatic breast cancer increase their daily steps. Participants wear a Fitbit, use a smartphone app, and receive coaching calls over 24 weeks. The study measures changes in step counts and moderate-to-vigorous activity using a research-grade monitor. The goal is to learn which combination of app features, health record integration, and coaching is most useful for promoting physical activity in this group.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- A digital health program combining a Fitbit activity tracker, a smartphone app, health record integration, and coaching calls to encourage walking
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could show which parts of a digital activity program matter most, giving doctors a clearer way to help people with metastatic breast cancer stay active.
- What could go wrong
- The study tests a behavioral program, not a drug, and activity levels can be hard to change. Results may not apply to people who are less tech-comfortable or in different stages of treatment.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 224 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jan 2027
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2031
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Female sex assigned at birth, age 18 years or older * Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer or locally advanced disease not amenable to surgical resection. * Self-report engagement in \<150 min/week of moderate to vigorous physical activity * Ownership of an Android or iPhone with an up-to-date version of the operating system * Internet access to complete assessments * Fluency in spoken and written English * Willingness to obtain medical clearance to participate. Exclusion Criteria: * Untreated brain metastases * Breast cancer with metastases to only the axillary lymph nodes. * Self-reported absolute contraindications to exercise (i.e., non-ambulatory, acute myocardial infarction, severe cognitive or functional impairment) * Currently pregnant or plans to become pregnant * Plans to move out of the United States in next 12 months * Current enrollment in another dietary or physical activity trial
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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