Breathing-muscle training during chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer
Official title: Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training Among Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Active Treatment (IMACT)
Run by Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center · NCT07386444 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This tests whether breathing exercises using a small hand-held device can strengthen inhalation muscles, reduce shortness of breath, and help activity levels in women receiving chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 58 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Columbus, Ohio) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 16, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | April 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07386444 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adult women (≥18 years) with early-stage, non-metastatic breast cancer who are within three weeks of starting chemotherapy, can exercise independently, and can read and speak English.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with metastatic disease, those unable or unwilling to follow the protocol, or those with significant comorbid conditions that limit safe participation are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized study compares eight weeks of low-intensity versus high-intensity inspiratory muscle training (IMT) using a small hand-held device that makes it slightly harder to breathe in. Participants perform three sets of fifteen repetitions per session for 15–20 minutes, four days per week. Primary outcomes include inspiratory muscle strength, exertional dyspnea, and physical activity levels measured before and after the intervention. Enrollment is limited to adult women who have started chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer within the prior three weeks and can exercise independently.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, IMT could strengthen breathing muscles, lessen shortness of breath, and help patients stay more physically active during chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: IMT has improved inspiratory strength and reduced dyspnea in conditions like COPD and surgical recovery, but evidence specifically in breast cancer patients on chemotherapy is limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Within 3 weeks of starting chemotherapy for an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis * Able to exercise independently without needing support * Ability to read, speak, understand English Exclusion Criteria: * Metastatic breast cancer * Unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements * Any significant health condition which in the investigator's opinion increases the risks of participation or makes the participant unsuitable for the study
Where it's running
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Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Columbus, Ohio, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Dharini M Bhammar, MBBS, PhD — Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Email: OSUCCCClinicaltrials@osumc.edu
- Phone: 800-293-5066
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.