CI

At a glance

ClinicalIndex Comparison Record
N/ACompleted· 132 enrolled / 132 target
Drug / intervention
Aerobic Training Group +2 morebehavioral
Likely dose
Not stated in record
Structured eligibility isn't available for this trial yet — see the full criteria in the Eligibility tab below.

Standardized by ClinicalIndex from the ClinicalTrials.gov record · verify against the source.

Search/NCT05297773
NCT05297773N/ACompletedOn Track (3.1/mo)Completion was 6mo ago

Effects of Resistance vs. Aerobic Training on Ki-67 and Other Health-Related Biomarkers: The NEO-Program, a Randomized Controlled Trial on Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Treatment

Fundacao Champalimaud·interventional·Posted Mar 28, 2022·Updated Jun 23, 2026

In Brief

A clinical study evaluating Aerobic Training Group, Resistance Training Group, and 1 other intervention for Breast Cancer. Completed, enrolled 132 participants across 2 sites.

Detailed Summary

A recent consensus study suggested that understanding the impact of exercise on the tumor microenvironment and therapy effectiveness is paramount and should be considered as a research priority. Therefore, the research team intends to address some of the scientific challenges proposed, which represent clear gaps in the current knowledge. The investigators propose a randomized controlled trial conducted during all neoadjuvant treatment duration that aims to evaluate and compare the effects of two different exercise protocols (aerobic and resistance training) against a relaxation control group on Ki-67% changes as the main outcome in breast cancer patients. Secondary outcomes will be body composition; resting metabolic rate; physical fitness; quality of life, fatigue, depression/anxiety; accelerometry data (physical activity levels, sedentary time); sleep quality; tumor biology (size, hypoxia, and immune profile); glycemic, lipid, and inflammatory profile. This project will help not only researchers with the design of future exercise intervention protocols but will also help exercise physiologists in the decision-making process when defining training programs. Moreover, the investigators expect that this research program will encourage more cancer patients to exercise. The team expects that patients with breast cancer engaging in structured exercise will show a more marked decrease in Ki-67, tumor size, and hypoxia and increase the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) compared to controls. The investigators anticipate a more noticeable decrease in the preoperative endocrine prognostic index (PEPI) score and in the Residual Breast Cancer (RCB) in both training groups (respectively with hormonal and chemotherapy). Also, frequent declines in physical fitness are expected to be mitigated in exercisers. It is hypothesize that aerobic training will ameliorate cardiorespiratory fitness and fat mass, while the effects of resistance training will be more relevant for muscle strength, muscle mass, and bone health. Both exercise groups will show greater improvements in quality of life, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and sleep quality. Regarding glycemic, lipid, and inflammatory profiles, the investigators expect to see more favorable changes in both training groups, with a more evident decrease in fasting glucose and insulin, HbA1c%, total and LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides, and the increase in HDL-cholesterol. The increase in C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-1β, IL-1ra, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and the decrease in brain-derived neutrotophic factor (BDNF), IL-12p70, IL-10, oncostatin M will be smaller in exercise groups.

Study Details

Study Typeinterventional
Allocation--
Masking--
Primary Purpose--
ConditionsBreast Cancer
CountriesPortugal

Timeline

N/ACompletedFinished
2023202420252026
First PostedMar 28, 2022
Enrollment StartDec 16, 2022
Primary CompletionDec 30, 2025
TodayJul 2, 2026
Enrollment to primary: 3.0 yearsPosted 4.3 years ago

Arms & Interventions

Aerobic Trainingexperimental

Three sessions per week during 4-6-months according to each individual treatment plan. Participants allocated in this group will perform moderate-to-vigorous intensity cycling exercise.

Behavioral: Aerobic Training Group
Resistance trainingexperimental

Three sessions per week during 4-6-months according to each individual treatment plan. Participants allocated in this group will perform weight-machine strength exercises of the upper and lower body.

Behavioral: Resistance Training Group
Control Groupactive_comparator

One session per week of relaxation/stretching.

Other: Control group

Interventions

Aerobic Training Groupbehavioral

The participants will perform continuous cycling at 30%-35% of their heart rate reserve for one month (phase 1: adaptive phase). Then, the intensity will increase every 4-5 weeks (± 5%) up to 80% of heart rate reserve (moderate intensity), depending on the participant's tolerance. An individualized equation establishing the relationship between heart rate, oxygen consumption, and power output will be determined during the cardiorespiratory fitness assessment and used to determine exercise intensity.

Resistance Training Groupbehavioral

Initially, and during the first two weeks of the adaptive phase (1-month), the resistance training group will perform one set of 8-12 repetitions (40%-repetition maximum) of 8 exercises for upper and lower body (squat, leg extension, leg curl, deadlift, plank, dead bug, seated row, shoulder press). Then, in the last two weeks, the participants will perform 2 sets of each exercise (45%-repetition maximum). After the adaptive phase, three sets of each exercise will be performed. The initial load will be 50% -repetition maximum increasing up to a maximum of 70%-repetition maximum at the end of the study. Every 4-5 weeks the load will be reviewed and adjusted according to individual.

Control groupother

The control group will perform a weekly stretching/relaxation session for 45 minutes.