NIH Clinical Research Studies

Protocol Number: 04-C-0276

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

Title:
A Pilot Study of a Three Month Intervention for Increasing Physical Activity in Sedentary Women at Risk for Breast Cancer
Number:
04-C-0276
Summary:
Breast cancer is a major public health issue. Energy balance is increasingly thought to be important in determining breast cancer risk, and represents a risk factor that can be impacted by interventions such as lifestyle modifications. Increasing physical activity is a lifestyle change that may impact breast cancer risk, and is likely to be well received by women at high risk for breast cancer because it is without major side effects.

This pilot study will assess the feasibility of a simple lifestyle intervention for increasing physical activity. Eligible women are breast cancer survivors and women at high risk for breast cancer who are sedentary at baseline. Subjects will be randomized to either physical activity intervention or control. Subjects in the physical activity intervention group will receive a pedometer, a physician exercise prescription and a motivational and educational booklet, and will be asked to incrementally increase their amount of daily steps to a goal of 10, 000 steps per day. Subjects randomized to the control group will receive instruction on stretching exercises, and will be asked not to alter any other component of physical activity. The primary objectives of the study are to evaluate whether the intervention is successful in increasing levels of physical activity as measured by a validated physical activity questionnaire. The secondary objectives include exploring the effects of our physical activity intervention on biomarkers, quality of life, body composition and functional capacity. This pilot will serve as the first step to designing larger, randomized trials of physical activity interventions with breast cancer risk reduction endpoints, such as mammographic density, serum biomarkers, and ductal lavage fluid in high risk, obese, and underserved populations.

Sponsoring Institute:
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruitment Detail
Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects
Gender: Female
Referral Letter Required: No
Population Exclusion(s): Male

Children

Eligibility Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA:

This study will enroll 40 breast cancer survivors and 40 women at high risk for breast cancer. All participants must fulfill the following criteria:

Age 18 to 75.

Sedentary at baseline, as defined by a weekly leisure-time activity score of 15 or less on the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. This cutoff is equivalent to engaging in moderate activity less than 3 times a week.

Ability to complete all study questionnaires, or a willing friend or family member who will assist in questionnaire completion.

ECOG performance status 0-1.

Ability to successfully perform the level of physical activity prescribed by the protocol, as assessed by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q).

Any participant who answers yes to any of the questions in this screening tool will undergo medical evaluation at the Clinical Center, as appropriate, prior to enrolling on the study.

If history of cancer (other than invasive breast cancer, squamous or basal cell skin cancers), subjects must have no evidence of disease at time of enrollment AND no history of cancer directed treatment in the 2 years preceding enrollment.

Breast cancer survivors:

Eligible breast cancer survivors will be women with a documented history of Stage I, II or III invasive breast cancer who are at least 6 months from the completion of their primary therapy, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Current use of hormonal therapy such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, will be permitted, however subjects must have completed 2 months of hormonal therapy prior to beginning the study in order to achieve steady state.

Women at high risk for breast cancer:

Women will be considered at high risk for developing breast cancer if they fulfill one of the following criteria:

A Gail model risk of greater than 1.7 percent over 5 years from study entry or a Claus model lifetime risk of greater than 20 percent.

Lobular neoplasia.

Atypical ductal hyperplasia.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) that has been previously treated with mastectomy or lumpectomy and radiation, plus-minus tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor (must have completed 2 months of hormonal therapy prior to beginning study in order to achieve steady state).

Deleterious mutations in BRCA-1 or 2 OR A priori risk assessment of 20 percent chance or greater of carrying a BRCA1/2 gene mutation. The BRCAPRO model will be used to assess this risk.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study period. Pregnancy will be assessed prior to study enrollment using serum or urine pregnancy test.

Uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including, but not limited to: ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, recent myocardial infarction or stroke, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.

Physical conditions that preclude the amount of daily walking prescribed by the protocol (e.g., severe arthritis, use of a walker or cane, wheelchair-bound, etc.).

Medical or psychiatric disorder which would, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, render the subject unable to provide informed consent.

Patients with metastatic or recurrent disease will be excluded because of difficulty interpreting results in the context of women with a disease burden and/or on chemotherapy.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided
Keywords:
Exercise
Pedometer
Physician Prescription
Biomarkers
Compliance
Recruitment Keywords:
None
Conditions:
Breast Neoplasms
Investigational Drug(s):
None
Investigational Device(s):
None

Contacts:
Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citations:
Freedman AN, et al. Estimates of the number of US women who could benefit from tamoxifen for breast cancer chemoprevention. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2003 Apr 2;95(7):526-32.

Fisher B, et al. Tamoxifen for prevention of breast cancer: report of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project P-1 Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1998 Sep 16;90(18):1371-88.

Mokdad AH, Marks JS, Stroup DF, Gerberding JL. Actual causes of death in the United States, 2000. JAMA. 2004 Mar 10;291(10):1238-45. Review.

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

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