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

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Chemotherapy is an effective breast cancer treatment, which helped to increase the 5-year survival rate to approximately 95%. However, breast cancer survivors have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to chemotherapy than adults without cancer. Cardiovascular rehabilitation can be an effective strategy to decrease the incidence of CVD and its risk factors in this population. The proposed study may help to examine the effect and durability of a novel high-intensity interval training compared to moderate-intensity continuous training on cardiovascular rehabilitation in breast cancer survivors.

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) after breast cancer chemotherapy?

Research shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can help improve cardiorespiratory fitness and reduce cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. It has also been found to enhance health-related quality of life and is more effective than moderate-intensity exercise in improving aerobic capacity. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is high-intensity interval training (HIIT) safe for humans, especially after breast cancer chemotherapy?

Research shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is generally safe for breast cancer survivors and those undergoing chemotherapy, with studies indicating it can improve fitness and reduce fatigue without significant adverse effects. ^{2 3 4 6 7}

How does high-intensity interval training (HIIT) differ from other treatments for breast cancer patients after chemotherapy?

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is unique because it involves short bursts of intense exercise followed by rest, which can improve cardiorespiratory fitness more effectively than moderate continuous exercise. This approach is particularly beneficial for breast cancer patients who may experience reduced fitness due to chemotherapy. ^{1 2 3 4 8}

Research Team

Demetra Christou, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Florida

Eligibility Criteria

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 am between 18 and 85 years old.

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

I am biologically female.

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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 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) 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]

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) 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]

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]

References

1. Netherlands 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. [2019]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of high intensity interval training in patients with breast Cancer undergoing anthracycline chemotherapy: a randomized pilot trial. [2023]

3. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Additional cardiovascular fitness when progressing from moderate- to high-intensity exercise training in previously trained breast cancer survivors. [2021]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-intensity interval training in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review. [2021]

5. Germany 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. [2021]

6. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Highly favorable physiological responses to concurrent resistance and high-intensity interval training during chemotherapy: the OptiTrain breast cancer trial. [2019]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Training Is Feasible in Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer. [2020]

8. China 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. [2023]