NCT02763228

Brief Summary

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether a physical activity (exercise) program in the community will improve the functional and overall health status of older women with a history of breast cancer. The physical activity or exercise program is designed for all older breast cancer survivors, and in particular for African-Americans and women of lower socio-economic status, who are the least likely to engage in physical activity.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
218

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable breast-cancer

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2016

Typical duration for not_applicable breast-cancer

Geographic Reach
1 country

3 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 16, 2016

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 27, 2016

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 5, 2016

Completed
3.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 25, 2020

Completed
8 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

November 6, 2020

Completed
Last Updated

March 22, 2022

Status Verified

March 1, 2022

Enrollment Period

4 years

First QC Date

April 27, 2016

Last Update Submit

March 21, 2022

Conditions

Keywords

Physical ActivityBreast CancerminorityAfrican American

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in physical performance scores based on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)

    Change in physical performance will be ascertained using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Summary scores range from 0-12 and higher scores denote higher physical performance.

    baseline to 20 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Change in SPPB scores

    baseline to 52 weeks

  • Change in Activities of daily living (ADL) score

    baseline to 20 weeks

  • Change in Activities of daily living (ADL) score

    baseline to 52 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Group 1: Exercise Program

EXPERIMENTAL

The exercise in this study will consist of two types of exercise training: resistance training and aerobic exercise. Resistance training is like "weight lifting" to improve strength and function. Participants will complete resistance training by using resistance machines and free weights. Aerobic exercise is exercise that intends to improve the cardiopulmonary or oxygen/lung and heart systems. It is often referred to as "cardio" exercise. Treadmill walking, stationary cycling sessions, and/or other exercises will be used for aerobic exercise. Participants will be instructed in the exercise routine by physical fitness experts and trainers.

Behavioral: Aerobic Training - Fixed ScheduleBehavioral: Resistance Training - Fixed ScheduleBehavioral: Walking programBehavioral: Aerobic Training - Flexible ScheduleBehavioral: Resistance Training - Flexible Schedule

Group 2: Support Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

First 20 Weeks: Participants will take part in a structured Health Education and Support Group sessions once a week. Last 32 weeks: Participants will be encouraged to take part in any of the Support Group sessions offered regularly on their own schedule.

Behavioral: Successful Survivorship Health Education and Support GroupBehavioral: Flexible support groups

Interventions

Supervised aerobic training for 40 minutes 3x/week for 20 weeks

Also known as: Aerobic exercise
Group 1: Exercise Program

Supervised resistance training for 20 minutes 3x/week for 20 weeks

Group 1: Exercise Program
Walking programBEHAVIORAL

Unsupervised walking program 1-3 days/week for 52 weeks

Group 1: Exercise Program

Supervised aerobic training done on the participant's own schedule for 32 weeks

Group 1: Exercise Program

Supervised resistance training done on the participant's own schedule for 32 weeks

Group 1: Exercise Program

Support groups will be held for one hour 3x/week for 20 weeks. Topics will include, but are not limited, to long-term side effects of treatment, stress management, coping with fear and uncertainty, body image, sexuality, and spirituality.

Also known as: Structured Support Group
Group 2: Support Group

Participants will attend 1-3 weekly group sessions of their choosing for 32 weeks.

Group 2: Support Group

Eligibility Criteria

Age65 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsOlder Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Pathologically confirmed breast cancer
  • Stage I-III
  • Patients who have completed treatment but are within five years of treatment completion (primary surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy), whichever was received last. Hormonal therapy and targeted therapy are allowed
  • Race: African-Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites

You may not qualify if:

  • Stage IV breast cancer
  • Patients with end-stage disease, severe dementia and/or life expectancy of less than one year
  • Inability to understand English as study instruments have not been validated in other languages
  • Inability to provide informed consent
  • High-risk patients (as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine risk-stratification schema using the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)/American Heart Association exercise pre-participation questionnaire) who do not receive clearance from cardiology
  • Other medical or psychological conditions that would make participation unsafe or inhibit our ability to test our primary hypothesis, e.g. Parkinson's disease, severe dementia.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (3)

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States

Location

Metro Health Medical Center

Cleveland, Ohio, 44109, United States

Location

Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer institute, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Hundal J, Williams D, Nock NL, Austin K, Bennet E, Cerne S, Moore HCF, Petkac J, Schmitz KH, Berger NA, Owusu C. Older breast cancer survivors' exercise and support group program experiences and recommendations from the IMPROVE trial: a qualitative study. BMC Cancer. 2026 Jan 6. doi: 10.1186/s12885-025-15425-w. Online ahead of print.

  • Owusu C, Margevicius S, Nock NL, Austin K, Bennet E, Cerne S, Hergenroeder P, Moore HCF, Petkac J, Schluchter M, Schmitz KH, Webb Hooper M, Wimbley L, Berger NA. A randomized controlled trial of the effect of supervised exercise on functional outcomes in older African American and non-Hispanic White breast cancer survivors: Are there racial differences in the effects of exercise on functional outcomes? Cancer. 2022 Jun 15;128(12):2320-2338. doi: 10.1002/cncr.34184. Epub 2022 Mar 15.

  • Owusu C, Nock NL, Feuntes V, Margevicius S, Hergenroeder P, Austin K, Bennet E, Cerne S, Moore HCF, Petkac J, Schluchter M, Schmitz KH, Webb Hooper M, Coccia S, Nagy C, Wimbley L, Berger NA. IMPROVE, a community-based exercise intervention versus support group to improve functional and health outcomes among older African American and Non-Hispanic White breast cancer survivors from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds: Recruitment strategies and baseline characteristics. Cancer. 2021 Jun 1;127(11):1836-1846. doi: 10.1002/cncr.33430. Epub 2021 Feb 4.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Breast NeoplasmsMotor Activity

Interventions

ExerciseSelf-Help Groups

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by SiteNeoplasmsBreast DiseasesSkin DiseasesSkin and Connective Tissue DiseasesBehavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor ActivityMovementMusculoskeletal Physiological PhenomenaMusculoskeletal and Neural Physiological PhenomenaOrganizationsHealth Care Economics and Organizations

Study Officials

  • Cynthia Owusu, MD

    University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 27, 2016

First Posted

May 5, 2016

Study Start

March 16, 2016

Primary Completion

March 25, 2020

Study Completion

November 6, 2020

Last Updated

March 22, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-03

Locations