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Breast Cancer(ANTRAC)NCT04509284

Analgesic Effect of Resistance Training for Breast Cancer Survivors

A study testing Training in people with Breast Cancer and Surgery, run by Aalborg University at 1 site in Denmark.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Persistent pain after treatment for breast cancer is a major clinical problem, affecting 25-60 % of the patients and is a source of considerable physical disability and psychological distress. Thus, the development of novel interventions to improve pain management for these patients is of clinical importance. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years, women only
Conditions the study is for
Breast Cancer, Surgery, Chemotherapy Effect
What is being tested?
Training
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
20 participants
Where
1 siteDenmark
Study dates
10 Aug 2020to 23 Sep 2021
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 80 years
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • primary diagnosis of breast cancer (grades I-IIIA).
  • adult women at least 18 years of age.
  • having received breast cancer treatment (i.e. surgery and possible adjuvant chemo and/or radiotherapy) at least 18 months before the start of the study.
  • self reported pain in the areas of the breast, shoulder, axilla, arm and/or side of body with an intensity of ≥ 3 on a numeric rating scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable).
  • no signs of cancer recurrence.
  • reading, writing and speaking Danish.

Who cannot join

  • breast surgery for cosmetic reasons or prophylactic mastectomy.
  • bilateral breast cancer.
  • lymphedema.
  • other chronic pain conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis).
  • previous diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Denmark1 site
  • Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University

    Aalborg, Northern Jutland, 9220

Other trials in Denmark

About this study

Official title: Effect of Resistance Training of Persistent Pain After Breast Cancer

Persistent pain after treatment for breast cancer is a major clinical problem, affecting 25-60 % of the patients and is a source of considerable physical disability and psychological distress. Thus, the development of novel interventions to improve pain management for these patients is of clinical importance. Resistance training (RT) is a promising tool to combat a variety of undesirable adverse effects due to breast cancer treatment. Further, research suggests that it may also be able to provide pain-relieving benefits.

Hypothesis: Resistance training will improve pain perception and physical function in the short- and long term compared to a non-training control group.

Read the detailed description

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide with more than a million new cases diagnosed every year [1]. Fortunately, due to better treatment options, the population of long-term survivors is increasing. This poses new demands for knowledge on how to manage late effects to the treatment regimen. Persistent pain after treatment for breast cancer is a common and underestimated problem as well as it can be a source of considerable physical disability and psychological distress [2]. Hence, the development of novel interventions to improve pain management is of high clinical relevance. Resistance training (RT) is a promising clinical therapeutic tool to improve a variety of adverse effects to breast cancer treatment [3] and may provide several pain-relieving benefits [4]. However, the efficacy of this modality for managing persistent pain after breast cancer treatment is currently unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to investigate if individualized RT can modulate persistent pain after breast cancer treatment, thereby improving our understanding of how this modality may benefit patients and contribute to clinical guidelines for pain management in this clinical population.

Being tested
Training, Control
Keywords
Persistent Pain, Breast cancer treatment, Physical function, Quality of life, Resistance training, Analgesic effect of resistance training of persistent pain after breast cancer (ANTRAC)
Medical subject headings
Breast Neoplasms, Radiation Injuries, Chronic Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • TrainingOther

    The experimental group will perform a supervised progressive resistance training program, with five exercises for the upper- and lower body (box squat, bench press, trap bar deadlift, bench pull and lat pulldown), 2x/week for a 12 week period. The program will utilize a flexible progression system through three distinct training phases; 1) 2-4 sets of 10-12 repetitions, 2) 2-4 sets of 6-8 repetitions, 3) 2-4 sets of 2-4 repetitions. Number of sets are adjusted within session according to daily readiness while load is adjusted within and between sessions according to number of reps performed. A 3-5min rest period is provided throughout the program.

  • ControlOther

    The control group will be instructed to continue their everyday lifestyle with no specific instruction regarding exercise and/or diet. However, they will be encouraged not to engage in new forms of exercise or physical activity throughout the study period.

Study groups in NCT04509284
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
TrainingExperimentalParticipants with persistent pain after breast cancer treatment will receive 24 sessions of individualized progressive total body resistance training, supervised by a certified strength and conditioning specialist.
Receives: Other: Training
ControlOtherParticipants with persistent pain after breast cancer treatment will be instructed to continue their everyday lifestyle and be encouraged not to engage in new forms of exercise or physical activity throughout the study period.
Receives: Other: Control

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in pain sensitivity, assessed through pressure pain thresholds.

    Between group comparisons of treatment effect (change in pressure pain thresholds) from baseline to follow-up) will be performed. Pressure pain thresholds will be collected with a pressure algometer with a progressive increment in pressure of 30kPa.

    Measured: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months

  2. Change in pain intensity, assessed through a 11 point numeric rating scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable).

    Pain intensity is collected in two different contexts; 1) recollection for the past 3 months and 2) movement evoked pain during testing and training.

    Measured: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Muscular strength assesses through a 1 repetition maximum (1RM)

    1RM box squat, bench press, trapbar deadlift, bench pull and lat pulldown conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

    Measured: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months

  2. Active shoulder range of motion assessed with a universal goniometer.

    Active range of motion for the affected shoulder is collected for shoulder flexion, horizontal shoulder flexion/extension, shoulder abduction and internal/external shoulder/rotation

    Measured: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months

  3. Body composition assessed through bioelectrical impedance measurements.

    Estimates of body fat mass, fat free mass, skeletal muscle mass and bodyfat percentage are collected from bioelectrical impedance using an InBody370 device.

    Measured: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months

  4. Arm circumference measured bilaterally at a single point 30cm above the styloid process.

    Arm circumference is collected to assess potential lymphedema development. A difference in circumference of >10% between arms is considered indicative of lymphedema.

    Measured: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months

  5. Physical activity level assessed through the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ).

    IPAQ estimates physical activity level as "low", "moderate" or "high" from the number of days and time per day conducting either hard, moderate or easy physical activity for the pas seven days.

    Measured: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months

  6. Health related quality of life assessed through the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORCT)-C30 quality of life questionaire

    The EORCT-C30 QLQ estimates quality of life through a series of questions regarding the extent to which the respondee experience various restrictions in physical function and well-being common in cancer patients, ranging from 1 (not at all) to 4 (A lot) on a four point likert scale.

    Measured: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months

  7. Quality of life assessed through the breast cancer specific European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORCT)-BR23 quality of life questionaire

    The EORCT-C30 QLQ estimates quality of life through a series of questions regarding the extent to which the respondee experience various restrictions in physical function and well-being common in breast cancer patients, ranging from 1 (not at all) to 4 (A lot) on a four point likert scale.

    Measured: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months

  8. Cancer fatigue assessed through the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) - fatigue scale.

    The FACIT-scale estimates fatigue through a series of questions regarding the extent to which the respondee experience various symptoms of fatigue, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (A lot) on a five point likert scale.

    Measured: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months

  9. Mental health assessed through the Major Depression Index (MDI)

    The MDI estimates mental health through a series of questions regarding the extent to which the respondee experience various symptoms of depression, ranging from 0 (never) to 5 (All the time) on a five point likert scale.

    Measured: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Aug 2020
  2. Study start10 Aug 2020
  3. Primary completion23 Sep 2021
  4. Study completion23 Sep 2021

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
20 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04509284
Sponsor's protocol ID
N-20180090
Other IDs
R204-A12469
Acronym
(ANTRAC)
Status last verified
Jan 2022
First submitted
6 Aug 2020
Last updated
12 Jan 2022
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Cronin-Fenton DP, Norgaard M, Jacobsen J, Garne JP, Ewertz M, Lash TL, Sorensen HT. Comorbidity and survival of Danish breast cancer patients from 1995 to 2005. Br J Cancer. 2007 May 7;96(9):1462-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603717. Epub 2007 Apr 3.

    PubMed 17406360
  • Jung BF, Ahrendt GM, Oaklander AL, Dworkin RH. Neuropathic pain following breast cancer surgery: proposed classification and research update. Pain. 2003 Jul;104(1-2):1-13. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3959(03)00241-0. No abstract available.

    PubMed 12855309
  • De Backer IC, Schep G, Backx FJ, Vreugdenhil G, Kuipers H. Resistance training in cancer survivors: a systematic review. Int J Sports Med. 2009 Oct;30(10):703-12. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1225330. Epub 2009 Jul 7.

    PubMed 19585401
  • Rice D, Nijs J, Kosek E, Wideman T, Hasenbring MI, Koltyn K, Graven-Nielsen T, Polli A. Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia in Pain-Free and Chronic Pain Populations: State of the Art and Future Directions. J Pain. 2019 Nov;20(11):1249-1266. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.03.005. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

    PubMed 30904519
  • Rasmussen GHF, Madeleine P, Arroyo-Morales M, Voigt M, Kristiansen M. Resistance Training-Induced Acute Hypoalgesia in Women With Persistent Pain After Breast Cancer Treatment. J Strength Cond Res. 2023 Mar 1;37(3):e16-e24. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004320. Epub 2022 Sep 28.

    PubMed 36173261
  • Rasmussen GHF, Kristiansen M, Arroyo-Morales M, Voigt M, Madeleine P. The Analgesic Effect of Resistance Training after Breast Cancer (ANTRAC): A Randomized Controlled Trial. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2023 Feb 1;55(2):167-176. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003034. Epub 2022 Sep 7.

    PubMed 36084228

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Training in people with Breast Cancer and Surgery, run by Aalborg University at 1 site in Denmark.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Jan 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Denmark. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in pain sensitivity, assessed through pressure pain thresholds. (time frame: Baseline and at 3, and 6 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04509284, which also lists 6 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Jan 2022.

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