title: Physical Activity in Pediatric Cancer patients with solid tumors (PAPEC): trial rationale and design.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This randomized controlled trial on Physical Activity in Pediatric Cancer (PAPEC) was designed to assess the impact of an exercise program on pediatric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 pediatric patients of both sexes, aged 4 to 18 years and undergoing treatment for extracranial primary solid tumors will be recruited for this trial. Each participant will be randomly assigned (with blocking on sex) to either an intervention or control (normal care) group. The intervention group will participate in combined inpatient physical training (aerobic + strength) for the duration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The intervention will include 3 weekly 60-70 min exercise sessions in the child's room or in a pediatric gym at the hospital, depending on the child's health state. In both groups, determination of several primary (cardio-respiratory fitness, muscle strength, functional capacity, physical activity levels, body weight and quality of life) and secondary outcomes [immune function and inflammatory profile (blood levels of 47 cytokines)] will be made at the following time points: (i) before the exercise intervention (immediately after diagnosis and before treatment onset); (ii) after the exercise intervention (upon termination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy); and (iii) after a detraining period (2 months after the intervention).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PAPEC trial will provide relevant new information on biological mechanisms and inform on the potential clinical use of exercise during pediatric cancer treatment as a simple way to prevent future long-term treatment effects and improve the general health state of pediatric cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Portugal. soaresmiranda@fade.up.pt
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soares-Miranda
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiuza-Luces
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lassaletta
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santana-Sosa
authors.forename: Julio R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Padilla
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernández-Casanova
authors.forename: Rosalía
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-González
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: López-Mojares
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Martínez
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010372:Pediatrics; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Cancer; Children; In-hospital exercise; Randomized controlled trial