EXERT-BC Cardio: Cardio or Conditioning Training With Breast Cancer

NCT07739563 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2026-195
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In this study, the investigators hypothesize that observed intense resistance training with conditioning elicits similar changes in body composition, muscle mass, and blood pressure as that with cardiovascular training (or cardio) for women treated with breast cancer.

Conditions

Cancer; Breast Cancer

Keywords

Exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Muscle Mass

  Measured as total muscle mass (kg), determined via InBody 970 bioimpedance analysis and ultrasound (BodyMetrix) for muscle tissue thickness.

  Baseline (Prior to Program) and At Exercise Program Completion (approximately 2 months).

• Change in Fat Mass

  Measured as total fat mass (kg), determined via InBody 970 bioimpedance analysis and ultrasound (BodyMetrix) for adipose tissue thickness.

  Baseline (Prior to Program) and At Exercise Program Completion (approximately 2 months).

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Change in Blood Pressure

  Baseline (Prior to Program), at Month 1, and At Exercise Program Completion (approximately 2 months).

• Change in Resting Metabolic Rate

  At Exercise Program Completion (approximately 2 months).

• Change in Body Composition Metrics (Other than Muscle/Fat Mass)

  Baseline (Prior to Program) and At Exercise Program Completion (approximately 2 months).

• Change in Phase Angle

  Baseline (Prior to Program) and At Exercise Program Completion (approximately 2 months).

• Exercise Adherence

  Throughout the Exercise Program (approximately 2 months).

Study Arms (2)

Cardio Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Resistance Training with Cardio

Conditioning Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Resistance Training with Conditioning

Interventions

Resistance Training with Cardio BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this arm will engage in a supervised exercise regimen three times per week, for approximately 2 months (8 weeks). The regimen combines two days of hypertrophy-focused resistance training with a third day dedicated to steady-state cardiovascular exercise. The cardio day will utilize ergometer-based exercises (rowing ergometer, Assault Air Bike) and unweighted sled pushes, with each activity lasting 10 minutes continuously. The overall program aims to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in breast cancer survivors, under the guidance of Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS).

Cardio Training

Resistance Training with Conditioning BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this arm will engage in a supervised exercise regimen three times per week, for approximately 2 months (8 weeks). The regimen combines two days of hypertrophy-focused resistance training with a third day dedicated to high-intensity conditioning. The conditioning day involves a circuit format of 6 total exercises, completed for 8 repetitions each across 8 sets, with limited rest periods (10 seconds or less) between exercises and sets. Exercise selection is total-body focused, alternating between upper and lower body movements. The program aims to improve muscular conditioning and body composition in breast cancer survivors, under the guidance of Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS).

Conditioning Training

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 by a CSCS
• Must be able to read and understand English and consent for themselves.

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
• Beta blocker or GLP-1 inhibitor medications
• 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; Motor Activity

Interventions

Resistance Training

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

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, CSCS

  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: 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 28, 2026
• First Posted: July 31, 2026
• Study Start: July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Last Updated: July 31, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

US (1)