NCT06300515

Exercise and Health Counseling in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Exercise Intervention in Childhood and Adolescence Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: The Henkō Trial

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Alejandro Lucia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years – 21 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Thanks to medical advances, survival rates \>5 years in children/adolescents undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) exceed 70%. However, these patients are at high risk of suffering sequelae associated with the underlying disease and/or the HSCT itself, which negatively affects their physical capacity. These patients also tend to spend too much time inactive, which further accelerates functional decline in addition to producing fatigue and impairing quality of life. Therefore, new strategies are needed to minimize the morbidity associated with HSCT. In this effect, although physical exercise represents an interesting adjuvant treatment option for HSCT, scientific evidence in this area is still scarce. Implementation of physical exercise intervention in pediatric HSCT units is challenging due to the lack of research on the effectiveness, affordability and accessibility of this type of intervention. Therefore, establishing the effectiveness of physical exercise under controlled conditions is an important step. The investigators therefore aim to assess the impact of a physical exercise and health counseling program, compared to health counseling only (control group), in pediatric patients with cancer undergoing HSCT on muscle strength (primary outcome), and several fitness/function, clinical burden (i.e., cardiac damage, treatment toxicities, health-related quality of life, among others) and biological variables (omics, blood immune phenotype, microbiome) (secondary outcomes). The investigators will also determine to what extent the benefits of this intervention are maintained over time. Additionally, the investigators will determine the intervention implementability in a real clinical situation in 3 different pediatric HSCT units.

Detailed description

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which is used to treat high-risk malignancies, as well as some other conditions or even autoimmune processes, consists of several phases: mobilization and subsequent collection of hematopoietic stem cells from the patient (autologous HSCT) or from a donor (allogeneic HSCT); pre-HSCT conditioning; infusion of patient/donor cells; establishment of a new immune and hematopoietic system in the recipient; and prophylaxis/treatment of possible adverse effects. Since the first successful allogeneic transplant was performed in 1968, thanks to the advances experienced in conditioning regimens, as well as in donor-recipient histocompatibility testing, in patient care and in the management of graft versus host disease (GvHD), together with the increase in the number of donors, the expectations of children and adolescents who receive HSCT have improved, achieving long-term survival rates (\>5 years) \>70%. Yet survivors are at high risk of suffering side effects and toxicities derived from the HSCT itself and/or the underlying disease, with subsequent functional decline. In addition, they show a higher risk of rehospitalization than pediatric cancer survivors who did not receive HSCT and tend to develop chronic pathologies (especially cardiometabolic conditions and frailty) at earlier stages of adulthood than the general population. The investigators therefore aim to assess the impact of a physical exercise and health counseling program, compared to health counseling only (control group), in pediatric patients with cancer undergoing HSCT on the following outcomes assessed at 3 time points \[start of hospitalization for HSCT (i.e., baseline), and 8 weeks and 3 months after hospital discharge, respectively\]: muscle strength (primary outcome), and several fitness/function, clinical burden (i.e., cardiac damage, treatment toxicities, health-related quality of life, among others) and biological variables (omics, blood immune phenotype, microbiome) (secondary outcomes). We will also determine to what extent the benefits of this intervention are maintained over time. Additionally, the investigators will determine the intervention implementability in a real clinical situation in 3 different pediatric HSCT units.

Conditions

• Hematopoietic System--Cancer

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Control Group (Active Comparator)	During the intervention phase (hospitalization for HSCT and subsequent 8-week outpatient phase following discharge), the control group will participate in a Health Counseling Program (1 time/week) on aspects related to a healthy lifestyle such as reducing sedentary lifestyle, acquiring healthy nutritional habits, the importance sleep, screen use, and how to address barriers related to clinical status. We will adapt the program to the needs and timing of the patient's treatment, providing the content in one session/week orally (e.g. using presentations) and in writing (e.g. through brochures).
BEHAVIORAL	Intervention Group	Same as Control Group + exercise program as described below: Same as Control Group + exercise program as described below: Hospital ward (during HSCT); and Hospital Gym or online (patients' home) during the outpatient phase. Frequency: 3-5 days/week. Session duration: 15 to 65 minutes. Muscle strength training (30 minutes): large muscle group exercises (upper/lower limb + trunk exercises) performed as a circuit using body weight or against resistance (against gravity and with body weight, elastic bands, dumbbells, weighted vests, machines), with a wide range of joint mobility and at submaximal/maximum voluntary speed. Aerobic training (10-20 minutes): bicycling, crank-ergometry, circuit-style exercises, and games. Inspiratory muscle training will also be performed (5 min daily, using a specific device that creates resistance against inspiration).

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-04-01
• Primary completion: 2026-03-30
• Completion: 2026-12-31
• First posted: 2024-03-08
• Last updated: 2026-03-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Spain