Eurythmy Therapy (ERYT) as a Treatment Option for Fatigue in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

Last updated: October 16, 2024
Sponsor: University of Bern
Overall Status: Active - Not Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Breast Cancer

Pain (Pediatric)

Cancer

Treatment

Eurythmy therapy

CoordiFit

Clinical Study ID

NCT04024267
123123
  • Ages > 18
  • Female

Study Summary

Cancer related fatigue (CRF) is the most burdening symptom in breast cancer patients, and prevalence exceeds 75% in patients with metastatic disease. CRF is described as the symptom that has the largest impact on quality of life, with negative effects on work, social activities, and daily activities, and may lead to treatment discontinuation. Currently, there is no gold standard for the treatment of CRF. Drug therapies are not satisfactory. Since physical activity is associated with significant reduction in CRF, patients are encouraged to engage in an at least moderate level of physical activity. However, for many metastatic breast cancer patients this is too burdensome. Finally, there is some evidence that non-pharmacological mind-body techniques may be beneficial in reducing CRF, yet the available data do not allow for final recommendations. Given the high prevalence of CRF and the substantial distress for patients, advancing treatment options for patients with CRF is highly desirable. In the present study, patients with metastatic breast cancer will be randomly assigned to two different non-pharmacological treatments for fatigue: Eurythmy therapy (ERYT), a standardized active mindful movement therapy, or a movement program without mindfulness features (CoordiFit). It will be tested, if ERYT has a superior benefit on fatigue compared to CoordiFit over the period of the intervention (20 weeks). Further, the benefit of ERYT on quality of life, sleep quality, anxiety, depression, pain, mobility of the arm, rate of return to work, compliance with ERYT, and targeted metabolomics will be investigated.

Both groups will have equal frequency and duration of the training sessions. Each patient will receive 13 standardized therapy sessions of 45 min (once a week for 6 weeks and once every second week) during the total period of 20 weeks. The proposed study has been developed in the Breast Cancer Project Group of the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK) and is supported by many breast centers, because they realize that the patients value non-pharmacological treatment options and would be keen to participate in such a trial. If ERYT proves to be beneficial, the impact of this trial will be high and will have implications not only for metastatic breast cancer patients but also for other cancer patients, health care personnel, scientists and funding and regulatory bodies.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female, aged 18 years or older

  • Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic breast cancer

  • FACIT-F subscale score < 34 (considered as cut-off for a diagnosis of relevantfatigue; a score < 30 is considered as severe fatigue [83])

  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) grade 1 or 2

  • Ability to physically and cognitively perform an active movement therapy

  • Ability to provide informed consent as documented by signature

  • Ability to read, write, and speak German, French, or Italian

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability or contraindication that would prevent prolonged follow-up, or to undergothe investigated intervention or control intervention, in the opinion of theinvestigator

  • Patients with psychiatric, addictive or any disorder that prevents the patient fromadhering to the protocol requirements, in the opinion of the investigator

  • Significant uncontrolled cardiac disease (e.g. unstable angina, recent myocardialinfarction)

  • Haemoglobin < 90 g/L

Study Design

Total Participants: 196
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Eurythmy therapy
Phase:
Study Start date:
March 10, 2020
Estimated Completion Date:
July 31, 2025

Connect with a study center

  • Brustzentrum Basel Bethesda Spital

    Basel, 4051
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • St. Clara Forschung AG

    Basel, 4058
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • Engeriedspital

    Bern, 3001
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • Hirslanden Bern AG, Salem-Spital, Brustzentrum Bern Biel

    Bern, 3013
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern

    Bern, 3012
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • University Hospital Bern

    Bern, 3010
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • Réseau hospitalier neuchâtelois

    La Chaux-de-Fonds, 2300
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • Tumorzentrum ZeTuP Rapperswil-Jona

    Rapperswil-Jona, 8640
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • Brustzentrum Ostschweiz AG

    Saint Gallen, 9016
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • Kantonsspital St.Gallen, Zentrum für Integrative Medizin

    Saint Gallen, 9007
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • Tumor- und Brustzentrum ZeTuP AG

    Saint Gallen, 9006
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

  • Kantonsspital Winterthur, Medizinische Onkologie und Hämatologie

    Winterthur, 8401
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

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