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Physical Exercise During Preoperative Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is increasingly used in breast cancer. The best proof of NACT efficacy is pathological complete response (pCR), i. e.
the absence of invasive tumour on post-NACT surgical histopathology. While it is known that physical exercise can help patients to better tolerate and complete often harsh cancer treatments, it is an emerging area of research to understand if and how exercise exerts anti-tumour effects and improves oncological outcomes. The main aim of the Neo-ACT trial is to examine if a physical exercise intervention during NACT can increase pCR rates in breast cancer.
Secondary aims are residual cancer burden, radiological tumour response, patient-related outcomes (health-related quality of life, physical activity), physiological outcomes (muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness), cancer treatment-related toxicities (cognitive dysfunction, chemotherapy completion rates) and long-term sick leave. Furthermore, the trial will explore how physical exercise affects anti-tumoral mechanisms inherent to therapy or host by hypothesis-generating translational analyses. 712 patients with primary invasive breast cancer will be randomized to either a supervised intervention of high-intensity interval and resistance training during NACT, supported by an exercise app, or to usual care, and followed for two years.
Physical activity is meticulously tracked. By offering patients active involvement, the trial contributes strongly to the concept of personalized medicine.
Study details:
The Neo-ACT assesses the primary endpoint pathological complete response (pCR) and the secondary endpoints Residual Cancer Burden (RCB), objective tumour response (RECIST), all-cause, breast cancer-specific, and recurrence-free survival at 2, 5 and 10 years, health-related quality of life assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR23 questionnaires, self-reported physical activity (Modified Godin Leisure Time Physical activity questionnaire), toxicity-related outcomes (chemotherapy completion rates, number of unplanned hospital admissions during NACT, objective cognitive dysfunction (Amsterdam Cognition Scan), cardiac toxicity and sick leave), device-measured physical activity level (Fitbit activity tracker), muscle strength (handgrip strength test and hypothetical 1-RM maximal leg muscle strength tests), and cardiorespiratory fitness (Ekblom-Bak submaximal cycle test). Participants randomized to the exercise group will complete 120 min exercise sessions per week from initiation of NACT to surgery (approx. five months):.
* Progressive home exercise program by an individualised mobile phone application, supported by local physiotherapists. * Initial exercise intensity individually tailored to each patient's fitness at baseline and rate of perceived exertion during the program and adapted if required. * Sessions will begin with a 3-minute moderate intensity (12-13 on Borg's Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale) warm-up.
Eligibility criteria
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. See if you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Eligibility
Age eligible for study : 18 and older
Healthy volunteers accepted : No
Gender eligible for study: All
Things to know
Study dates
Study start: 2022-11-09
Primary completion: 2025-12-01
Study completion finish: 2027-12-01
Study type
TREATMENT
Phase
NA
Trial ID
NCT05184582
Intervention or treatment
BEHAVIORAL: Physical training
Conditions
- • Breast Cancer
Find a site
Closest Location:
Cabrini Health
Research sites nearby
Select from list below to view details:
Cabrini Health
Melbourne, Not Specified, Australia
Study Plan
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
How is the study designed?
| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
NO_INTERVENTION: Standard
| Not specified |
EXPERIMENTAL: Intervention
| BEHAVIORAL: Physical training
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary outcome
| Primary Outcome Measure | Primary Outcome Description | Primary Outcome Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Pathological complete response | Absence of residual invasive tumor in breast and axilla at surgery | 5-6 months |
Secondary outcome
| Secondary Outcome Measure | Secondary Outcome Description | Secondary Outcome Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Global health-related quality of life | assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire | baseline, after 1 and 2 years |
| Breast cancer-related quality of life | assessed by the EORTC QLQ-B23 questionnaire | baseline, after 1 and 2 years |
| Self-reported physical activity | Modified Godin Leisure Time Physical activity questionnaire | baseline, pre-surgery, 1- and 2-year follow-up |
| Chemotherapy completion rate | proportion of participants receiving the planned number of treatments | 1 year |
| Cumulative chemotherapy dosage | total dose of NACT received to account for potential dose reduction | 1 year |
| Objective cognitive dysfunction | online neuropsychological test (Amsterdam Cognition Scan) | baseline and 1 year |
| Sick leave | Patient-reported absence from work | pre-surgery and at 1- and 2-year follow-up |
| Device-measured physical activity level | Fit-bit tracker | baseline and 5-6months (pre surgery) |
| Muscle strength | hypothetical 1-RM maximal leg muscle strength test | baseline and 5-6 months |
| Handgrip strength | handgrip strength test | baseline and 5-6 months |
| Cardiorespiratory fitness | Åstrand submaximal cycle test | baseline and 5-6 months (pre-surgery) |
| Radiological tumour response | RECIST | 5-6 months |
| Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) | Degree of tumor response to NACT | 5-6 months |
Frequently Asked Questions
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