Exercise in Pediatric Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Patients

Summary

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an intensive therapy used to improve survivorship and cure various oncologic diseases. However, this therapy is associated with high mortality rates and numerous negative side-effects. The recovery of the immune system is a special concern and plays a key role in the success of this treatment. In healthy populations it is known that exercise plays an important role in immune system regulation, but little is known about the role of exercise in the hematological and immunological recovery of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The Primary objective of this Randomized Controlled Trial is: study the effect of an exercise program on immune cell recovery in patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation. The Secondary objective is to determine if an exercise intervention might diminish the deterioration of quality of life, physical fitness, and the acquisition of a sedentary lifestyle.

Methods

Twenty-four participants treated for a malignancy with autologous stem cell transplant (5 to 18 years) in the Alberta Children's Hospital will be randomly assigned to an exercise or control group. The exercise group will participate in a two-phase exercise intervention (in and outpatient) from hospitalization until 10 weeks after discharge. The exercise program includes strength, flexibility and aerobic exercise. During the inpatient phase this program will be performed 5 times/week and will be supervised. The outpatient phase will combine a supervised session with two home-based exercise sessions with the use of the Wii device. The control group will follow the standard protocol without any specific exercise program. A range of outcomes, including quantitative and functional recovery of immune system, cytokine levels in serum, NK cells and their subset recovery and function, and gene expression of activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors, body composition, nutrition, quality of life, fatigue, health-related fitness assessment and physical activity levels will be examined, providing the most comprehensive assessment to date.

Discussion We expect to find an improvement in the immunological recovery, quality of life, decreased acquisition of sedentary behavior and less fitness deconditioning.

Conditions

• Cancer
• Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Interventions

OTHER

EXERCISE (EX)

This study will examine the effect of two phases of an EX program on several health related outcomes in pediatric patient undergoing autologous SCT. The first phase of the EX program will be an inpatient intervention and will begin when the child is hospitalized undergoing conditioning therapy and will continue until discharge. The second phase will be a 10-week outpatient intervention, beginning once the child is discharged. We will utilize a mixed EX program, including supervised (at the University of Calgary) and home-based training incorporating the use of the Nintendo ® Wii device™ (Wii Fit, Wii Dance and Sports™ games).

OTHER

Standard Care

This group will be under standard care without any EX intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Alberta Children's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Calgary

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Nicole S Culos-Reed, Ph.D · University of Calgary Faculty of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine and Department of Psychosocial Resources, Tom Baker Cancer Centre

• Carolina Chamorro-Viña, Ph.D · Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary.

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

5 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-06-30

Primary Completion

2014-08-31

Completion

2014-10-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations