Exercise may fight inflammation in breast cancer survivors
NCT ID NCT04720209
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at whether a 16-week exercise program can lower inflammation in fat tissue for women who have completed breast cancer treatment. About 100 participants will do supervised aerobic and resistance training or home-based stretching. The goal is to see if exercise can improve long-term health and reduce cancer-related risks.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- exercise program (aerobic and resistance training)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that structured exercise reduces inflammation, which may help lower the risk of breast cancer recurrence or improve overall health in survivors.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study with only 102 participants, so results may not apply to all breast cancer survivors. The exercise program is supervised and time-intensive, which may limit adherence.
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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102 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Aug 2021
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2026
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: * Women diagnosed with breast cancer (all stages excluding stage IV), low grade disease positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors * Over the age of 18 years; children under the age of 18 will be excluded due to rarity of disease * The effects of exercise on the developing fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control or abstinence) prior to study entry and for six months following duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect that she is pregnant while participating on the trial, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Patients must undergo a pregnancy test via urine strip that will be covered and provided by the PI. Urine strips will be utilized over bloodwork for cost effectiveness. Urine tests will be distributed once before DEXA scans. * Are centrally obese with the following criteria\[57\] (determined by study team at eligibility screening): BMI \>30 kg/m2 (calculated using height and weight; an upper limit BMI will not be set; we will rely on obtaining physicians' clearance to assess full eligibility) or body fat \>30% (estimated by bioelectrical impedance), and waist circumference \>35 in. * Have undergone a lumpectomy or mastectomy. * If cancer treatment included neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, participant must have received and completed treatment. * Speak English * Is in breast cancer remission with no detectable disease present * Able to initiate a supervised exercise program (free from any cardiovascular, respiratory or musculoskeletal disease or joint problems that preclude moderate physical activity) * Free from history of chronic disease including uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension or thyroid disease. * Have not experienced a weight reduction ≥10% within the past 6 months * Currently participate in less than 60 minutes of structured exercise/week * No planned reconstructive surgery with flap repair during trial and follow-up period * May use adjuvant endocrine therapy, trastuzumab or pertuzumab if use will be continued for duration of study intervention * Does not smoke (no smoking during previous 12 months) * Willing to travel to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients should not have any uncontrolled illness including ongoing or active infection, uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension or thyroid disease * Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents, or concurrent biological, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy * Patients with other active malignancies are ineligible for this study. * Patients with metastatic disease * Is not centrally obese as defined above * Has not completed surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment associated with their diagnosis * History of any musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory or neurological diseases that preclude the participation in exercise * Participates in more than 60 minutes of structured exercise/week * Is planning reconstructive surgery with flap repair during trial and follow-up period * Currently smokes * Is unable to travel to the exercise facilities * Subjects, who in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with the safety monitoring requirements of the study
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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