Outcomes Research in Pediatric Oncology | Nicolas von der Weid

The main interests of the research group are in the field of Outcome and Survivorship in pediatric oncology. Currently, about 80 to 85% of children and adolescents with cancer can be cured from their disease, but almost 2 thirds of them will develop one or more chronic disorders as late consequences of their intensive oncological therapies. Late mortality and morbidity is clearly increased in long-term survivors of childhood malignancies, mainly due to secondary cancers and cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, arterial hypertension or stroke. Up to now, very few interventional studies have been developed aiming at reducing this cardiovascular risk in this at-risk population.

Our research group will recruit survivors treated in Basel (UKBB) and offer them, in a randomized fashion, either a 1-year partially supervised physical activity program (study group) or to carry on with their habitual level of physical activity (control group). Clinical and biological parameters of the cardiovascular function, metabolic syndrome, bone health and quality of life will be assessed at study entry and after 3, 6 and 12 months on study. If proven effective, the program will then be offered to the control group for 1 year. If successful, the program could then be opened to other cancer survivors in the context of a nation-wide study, through the SPOG network or the Swiss Pednet.