Dr. Friedenreich
The Breast Cancer and Exercise Trial in Alberta (BETA) was a randomized controlled exercise intervention trial. Dr. Friedenreich and her colleagues recruited 400 postmenopausal women aged 50-74 years of age to examine how a one-year high volume (300 minutes per week) versus moderate volume (150 minutes per week) aerobic exercise intervention influences and modifies biomarkers for breast cancer risk. The main biomarkers examined included changes in body fat levels, insulin and insulin resistance, inflammation and endogenous sex steroid hormones. A one-year follow-up of all BETA participants was also conducted to examine the long-term benefit of the exercise intervention on these biomarkers. This trial provided evidence on the exact volume of exercise needed to reduce these biomarkers that are associated with increased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women.
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Kerry Courneya
Co-Investigators: Dr. Frank Stanczyk, Dr. Aalo Duha, Dr. Yutaka Yasui, Dr. Barbara Cameron
Funders: Alberta Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society
