A Pilot Study Assessing Myokines During an EXErcise Regimen After Treatment for Breast Cancer

NCT07698314 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 2026-125
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 21
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In this pilot study, the investigators will assess the changes in myokine production based on several different exercise regimens.

Conditions

Cancer; Breast Cancer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Myokine Production After First Exercise Session

  Quantification of a panel of 15 myokines (IL-5, IL-1ra, LIF, Irisin, SPARC, Decorin, Oncostatin M, Myostatin, Follistatin, Apelin, Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21), Cathepsin-B, IL-15, METRNL, Myonectin) in both serum and tear samples. The change from pre-exercise to post-exercise levels will be determined.

  Immediately before and immediately after the first exercise session.

• Change in Myokine Production After Final Exercise Session of Each Week

  Quantification of a panel of 15 myokines (IL-5, IL-1ra, LIF, Irisin, SPARC, Decorin, Oncostatin M, Myostatin, Follistatin, Apelin, Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21), Cathepsin-B, IL-15, METRNL, Myonectin) in both serum and tear samples for each group. The change from pre-exercise to post-exercise levels at the end of each week will be determined.

  Immediately before and immediately after the final exercise session of weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4.

• Change in Myokine Production After Final Exercise Session of the Month (End of Study)

  Quantification of a panel of 15 myokines (IL-5, IL-1ra, LIF, Irisin, SPARC, Decorin, Oncostatin M, Myostatin, Follistatin, Apelin, Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21), Cathepsin-B, IL-15, METRNL, Myonectin) in both serum and tear samples for each group. The change from pre-exercise to post-exercise levels at the culmination of the 4-week exercise period will be determined.

  Immediately before and immediately after the final exercise session of week 4 (end of the 4-week exercise regimen).

Study Arms (3)

Conditioning Regimen Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Conditioning Resistance Training

Strength Regimen Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Strength Resistance Training

Hypertrophy Regimen Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Hypertrophy Resistance Training

Interventions

Conditioning Resistance Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this group will perform a conditioning regimen from the EXERT-BCHC protocol, specifically described as "double training".

Conditioning Regimen Group

Strength Resistance Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this group will perform a strength regimen from the EXERT-BCHC protocol, specifically described as "8x8".

Strength Regimen Group

Hypertrophy Resistance Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this group will perform a hypertrophy regimen from the EXERT-BCHC protocol, specifically described as the "control arm".

Hypertrophy Regimen Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 89 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 20-89 years
• Women prescribed exercise as a SOC
• Women with a biopsy proven diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) 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.
• Women with \> 3 months of resistance training experience under expert guidance at the Allegheny Health Network Exercise Oncology Center

You may not qualify if:

• 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
• Pregnant women
• Males

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Allegheny Singer Research Institute (also known as Allegheny Health Network Research Institute): lead

Study Sites (1)

AHN Allegheny General Hospital

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15212, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms

Interventions

Resistance Training

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by Site; Breast Diseases; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Colin Champ, MD

  AHN Radiation Oncology

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Clinical Trials Contact

CONTACT

412-330-6151; ctgov@ahn.org

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 7, 2026
• First Posted: July 13, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2028
• Last Updated: July 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

US (1)