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. 2021 Jan 2;13(1):121.
doi: 10.3390/cancers13010121.

A Randomized Trial of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents with Cancer

Paul Saultier  1   2 , Clothilde Vallet  3 , Frédéric Sotteau  3 , Zeinab Hamidou  4 , Jean-Claude Gentet  1 , Vincent Barlogis  1 , Catherine Curtillet  1 , Arnauld Verschuur  1 , Gabriel Revon-Riviere  1 , Claire Galambrun  1 , Hervé Chambost  1   2 , Pascal Auquier  4 , Gérard Michel  1   4 , Nicolas André  1   5
Affiliations

A Randomized Trial of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents with Cancer

Paul Saultier et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a physical activity program (PAP) in children and adolescents with cancer.

Methods: children and adolescents with cancer were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the six-month PAP (intervention group) or to the control group. The first evaluation was performed at the end of the PAP (T0 + 6 mo). At T0 + 6 mo, both groups received the six-month PAP with a second evaluation at T0 + 12 mo. The primary outcome was the evolution of exercise capacity measured using the six-minute walk test (6 MWT) at T0 + 6 mo. Secondary outcomes included PAP safety and changes in other physical functions, self-esteem, and quality-of-life parameters.

Results: The trial involved 80 children and adolescents (age range 5.0-18.4 years), of whom 41 were assigned to the interventional group and 39 to the control group. Underlying malignancies were leukemia (39%) and a broad range of solid tumors (61%). No adverse events occurred. At T0 + 6 mo, the evolution of the 6 MWT distance (±SEM) was improved in the intervention group vs. the control group (86 ± 12 m vs. 32 ± 6 m, p < 0.001). Several other physical parameters were significantly improved in the intervention group. Global self-esteem and parent-reported quality-of-life were significantly increased in the intervention group. Analysis at T0 + 12 mo showed persistence of the benefits in the intervention group on exercise capacity evolution (115 ± 18 m vs. 49 ± 11 m, p = 0.004) and on most physical and QoL parameters.

Conclusion: In children and adolescents with cancer, a physical activity program is safe, improves exercise capacity, and may have physical and psychological benefits.

Keywords: child; exercise tolerance; neoplasms; quality of life; randomized controlled trials; sports.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Eligibility, randomization, and follow-up. PAP: physical activity program.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Evolution of the six-minute walk distance. Individual data points are shown; the horizontal lines indicate mean values.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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