The EMBRACE Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Randomised Controlled Study of Physical Exercise Intervention in Breast Cancer Patients at Risk of Anthracycline-induced Cardiomyopathy - The EMBRACE Study
IRAS ID
247703
Contact name
Dana Dawson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
13 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Toxic cardiomyopathy is a significant complication of cancer drug therapies, which affects approximately 10% of anthracycline-treated breast cancer patients and carries the worst prognosis of all cardiomyopathies. The most common presentation is clinical or sub-clinical left ventricular dysfunction, resulting in heart failure symptoms. In the absence of any effective pharmacological primary prevention therapy available, we are proposing a randomized controlled study in breast cancer patients whose left ventricular ejection fraction is normal at the start of their first cycle of anthracycline therapy. Patients will be randomised to routine clinical care versus standardized exercise training programme interleaved with the cycles of anthracycline chemotherapy. The main study outcomes are an improvement in either cardiac energetic status, cardio-metabolic performance or psychological wellbeing of these patients. If successful, this has the potential of rapid implementation into the clinic.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
18/NS/0081
Date of REC Opinion
6 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion