Modern therapy has improved survival for children with cancer. However, treatment takes its toll. One side-effect of chemotherapy and crucial cause of the many dysfunctions is a peripheral neuropathy CIPN. It causes severe symptoms such as loss of sensation, numbness, pain, absent reflexes as well as loss of balance control.
It is also of high clinical relevance as it affects medical therapy. Additionally, recovery is poor and there are currently no treatment options Loprinzi et al. Previous research has shown Streckmann et al. In our most recent study in adults, we were also able to prevent the onset of CIPN with clinical impact.
We hypothesize that CIPN could be the root of many problems children experience during therapy. Our aim is to maintain relevant sensory and motor functions in children in order for them to receive their planned medical therapy and become fitter and socially better integrated survivors.
We are therefore currently running a large, prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial Basel, Bern, Aarau, St. After therapy the control group will also be shown the training. We hypothesize that less children in the intervention group will develop symptoms of CIPN and will be able to maintain relevant motor and sensory functions which will enable them to receive their planned medical therapy but also to stay on the age-appropriate motor development level, improve their quality life and enhance social reintegration after therapy.
This would show that specific exercise therapy is more than just a lifestyle intervention, it could be a therapy option without further side- effects, changing supportive care in oncology. This study will therefore contribute to our endeavors to implement exercise therapy in pediatric oncology long-term empowering patients to return to an active lifestyle and additionally reduce the risk of long-term secondary diseases.
