Arterial Stiffness in Individuals With Breast Cancer

Launched by HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY · Jul 9, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how certain cancer treatments, like anthracyclines, might affect the stiffness of arteries (the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart) in women who have had breast cancer. The researchers also want to see how aerobic exercise—specifically exercises involving the arms—might help improve or change artery stiffness both right after exercise and over time.

Women between the ages of 40 and 69 who have finished breast cancer surgery at least 15 months ago and are physically inactive may be eligible to join. Participants need to have a healthy heart function and no serious heart or artery problems. During the study, women can expect to take part in exercise sessions focused on their upper body while researchers measure how their arteries respond. This study aims to better understand how breast cancer treatments affect blood vessels and whether exercise can help reduce any negative effects.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • To be between the ages of 40-69,
• • Baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \>50%,
• • Absence of coronary artery disease and haemodynamically significant valvular heart disease,
• • Absence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques,
• • Volunteering to participate in the research,
• • At least 15 months after breast cancer surgery,
• • No problems in reading and/or understanding the scales and being able to co-operate with the tests.
• • Physically inactive (60 minutes of structured exercise per week \<).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Presence of active infection,
• • Presence of bilateral breast cancer,
• • History of surgical, neurological or orthopaedic problems that may affect upper extremity functionality other than breast cancer surgery,
• • Having a neurological disease or other clinical diagnosis that may affect cognitive status,
• • Left ventricular dysfunction and severe liver and kidney dysfunction before starting chemotherapy
• • Musculoskeletal and neurological disease that may affect exercise performance, symptomatic heart disease, previous lung surgery and malignant disease.
• • Presence of unstable hypertension or diabetes mellitus.