High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) After Breast Cancer Chemotherapy

Overseen By Demetra Christou, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Florida

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular diseases, Lymphedema stage 2, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

158 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how different exercise programs can improve heart health in breast cancer survivors after chemotherapy. The study compares high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training to determine which is more effective for cardiovascular rehabilitation. Women who have completed treatment for stages I-III breast cancer 6 to 18 months ago may qualify. This trial provides an opportunity to understand how exercise impacts long-term health after cancer treatment. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique chance to contribute to valuable research on enhancing quality of life post-cancer treatment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not require you to stop taking your current medications. In fact, certain breast cancer treatments like endocrine therapy and other specified medications are allowed during the study.

What prior data suggests that this high-intensity interval training is safe for breast cancer survivors?

Research has shown that both High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) are generally safe for breast cancer survivors. A detailed review of 35 studies found that HIIT improved various physical health aspects in cancer survivors without major safety issues. Another study found that performing HIIT during chemotherapy improved overall survival rates, indicating it is well-tolerated.

For MICT, research also shows positive results. One study found that 12 weeks of moderate to high-intensity aerobic exercise significantly improved fitness in breast cancer patients, suggesting that MICT is safe and beneficial.

Overall, both types of exercise appear safe and may even enhance health in breast cancer survivors. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how different exercise regimens, like high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), might help breast cancer survivors after chemotherapy. Unlike typical post-chemotherapy care, which often focuses on rest and gradual return to daily activities, these exercise programs aim to boost physical recovery and overall health more actively. HIIT, in particular, is intriguing because it involves short bursts of intense activity, which might improve cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength more efficiently than traditional methods. By comparing these approaches to usual care, researchers hope to uncover new, effective ways to enhance recovery and quality of life for breast cancer survivors.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cardiovascular rehabilitation in breast cancer survivors?

This trial will compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on breast cancer survivors. Studies have shown that HIIT effectively improves heart and lung fitness in these individuals. A detailed review of 35 studies found that HIIT led to significant physical improvements in cancer patients. Research also suggests that HIIT can help maintain fitness during chemotherapy. Meanwhile, MICT has improved physical abilities and social well-being in breast cancer survivors. Participants in MICT programs experienced better physical function and fewer treatment side effects. Both HIIT and MICT offer benefits, but HIIT might slightly better boost fitness levels. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Demetra Christou, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Florida

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for female breast cancer survivors, aged 18-85, who finished chemotherapy over 6 months ago but less than a year. They should not have severe lymphedema or cardiovascular diseases and mustn't be pregnant or involved in other studies that could affect results.

Inclusion Criteria

I finished my breast cancer chemotherapy 6-12 months ago.

I am biologically female.

Absence of contraindications to exercise or to participate in study

Exclusion Criteria

You have been regularly doing moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for at least 150 minutes each week for the past 6 months.

Pregnancy

Current participation in other experimental interventions that may confound interpretation of study findings (e.g., dietary intervention for weight loss)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo supervised home-based exercise training, either high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), 3 days/week for 12 weeks

12 weeks

Supervised home-based sessions

Observation

Participants are monitored for changes in brachial FMD and cardiac function following the intervention

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
• Moderate-intensity Continuous Training

Trial Overview The study tests high-intensity interval training against moderate-intensity continuous training for improving heart health after breast cancer treatment. It includes a 12-week exercise program followed by a 12-week observation period to see which method is more effective.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Usual Care (UC) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Research participants will continue their habitual physical activity for the duration of the study. Once they complete the study, they will have the opportunity to perform supervised HIIT or MICT at home for 3 days/week for 12 weeks (research participants can choose either type of exercise).

Group II: Moderate Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Supervised home-based moderate-intensity continuous training will be performed on an all-extremity stationary cycle 3 days/week for 12 weeks.

Group III: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Supervised home-based high-intensity interval training will be performed on an all-extremity stationary cycle 3 days/week for 12 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Florida

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,428

Recruited

987,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a feasible exercise strategy for breast cancer patients undergoing anthracycline-based chemotherapy, with 80% of participants attending the majority of sessions and completing an average of 78 minutes of exercise per week.

The HIIT intervention successfully maintained cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) in participants, while the control group experienced a significant decline in VO2max, highlighting the potential of HIIT to counteract the negative effects of chemotherapy on fitness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of high intensity interval training in patients with breast Cancer undergoing anthracycline chemotherapy: a randomized pilot trial. Lee, K., Kang, I., Mack, WJ., et al.[2023]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) significantly improved cardiovascular fitness (VO2peak) by 16.8% in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant endocrine therapy, outperforming moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and control groups.

Both HIIT and MICT enhanced quality of life measures, with HIIT showing notable improvements in social well-being and functional well-being, indicating that these exercise modalities are safe and beneficial for breast cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of the effects of high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous training on inflammatory markers, cardiorespiratory fitness, and quality of life in breast cancer patients. Isanejad, A., Nazari, S., Gharib, B., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 240 women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, resistance and high-intensity interval training (RT-HIIT) significantly reduced cancer-related fatigue (CRF) compared to usual care, improving daily life and physical symptoms.

Both RT-HIIT and moderate-intensity aerobic training (AT-HIIT) enhanced health-related quality of life, with RT-HIIT also reducing overall symptom burden, highlighting the importance of structured exercise in cancer rehabilitation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adding high-intensity interval training to conventional training modalities: optimizing health-related outcomes during chemotherapy for breast cancer: the OptiTrain randomized controlled trial. Mijwel, S., Backman, M., Bolam, KA., et al.[2019]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is feasible and safe for postmenopausal, overweight/obese women at high risk of invasive breast cancer, with participants showing high adherence and no serious adverse events during a 12-week study involving 44 women.

HIIT led to significantly greater improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and usual care, as evidenced by increased treadmill performance and oxygen uptake, although there were no significant changes in body weight or BMI among the groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Training Is Feasible in Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer. Coletta, AM., Brewster, AM., Chen, M., et al.[2020]

An 8-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program significantly improved physical function in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, as evidenced by better performance in the Margaria-Kalamen stair climb test and the 6-minute walk test.

Despite the physical improvements, the HIIT intervention did not lead to significant changes in patient-reported outcomes related to quality of life or fatigue, suggesting that while HIIT can enhance physical capabilities, it may not directly impact perceived well-being during treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of high-intensity interval training on patient-reported outcomes and physical function in women with breast cancer receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Lee, K., Norris, MK., Wang, E., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 240 women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, 16 weeks of concurrent resistance and high-intensity interval training (RT-HIIT) significantly improved muscle strength and reduced pain sensitivity compared to usual care.

Both RT-HIIT and moderate-intensity aerobic plus high-intensity interval training (AT-HIIT) effectively prevented declines in cardiorespiratory fitness and limited increases in body mass, demonstrating that these exercise programs are safe and beneficial during chemotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Highly favorable physiological responses to concurrent resistance and high-intensity interval training during chemotherapy: the OptiTrain breast cancer trial. Mijwel, S., Backman, M., Bolam, KA., et al.[2019]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) both improved aerobic capacity (VO2peak) and waist circumference in breast cancer survivors over a 12-week program, but there were no significant differences between the two training methods.

While HIIT led to increases in minute ventilation and peak workload, it did not result in a greater improvement in VO2peak compared to MICT, suggesting that both training intensities are beneficial for previously trained breast cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Additional cardiovascular fitness when progressing from moderate- to high-intensity exercise training in previously trained breast cancer survivors. Bell, RA., Baldi, JC., Jones, LM.[2021]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness in breast cancer survivors, based on a review of 13 randomized controlled trials.

All HIIT interventions were supervised and lab-based, indicating a need for further research into the feasibility and effectiveness of home-based or unsupervised HIIT programs for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-intensity interval training in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review. Tsuji, K., Matsuoka, YJ., Ochi, E.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7897878/

High-intensity interval training in breast cancer survivors These findings suggest that HIIT has the effectiveness for improving cardiorespiratory fitness in breast cancer survivors. Muscle strength and muscle mass. Both ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1440244023004218

Clinical updates on the effects of high intensity interval ... Comprehensive meta-analysis of 35 trials (n = 1893 participants) using HIIT showed significant improvements across several physical outcomes in the cancer ...

3. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-025-05822-1

Supervised high-intensity interval training reduces the ... Supervised HIIT implemented alongside chemotherapy can mitigate the decline in cardiorespiratory fitness caused by BC chemotherapy in young patients.

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-024-65436-z

Five-year follow-up of the OptiTrain trial on concurrent ... This study examined the lasting impacts of the OptiTrain exercise program on breast cancer survivors 5 years post-intervention. The RT-HIIT ...

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1594574/full

Effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus ... The results of this study showed that, compared to MICT, HIIT led to a statistically significant increase in VO2 peak in cancer survivors.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5847033/

optimizing health-related outcomes during chemotherapy for ... 16 weeks of resistance and HIIT was effective in preventing increases in CRF and in reducing symptom burden for patients during chemotherapy for breast cancer.

7. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-025-18377-0

A randomized trial on the feasibility of high-intensity ... The OptiTrain trial showed that HIIT combined with resistance training can significantly improve muscle strength in breast cancer patients ...

8. breastcancer.org breastcancer.org/research-news/high-intensity-exercise-survival

Interval Training During Chemo Boosts Overall Survival Women who did high-intensity interval training during chemotherapy had better overall survival than women who didn't exercise.