Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer, accounting for almost one-quarter of childhood cancer survivors. We and others have demonstrated that ALL survivors develop a deleterious cardiometabolic phenotype following cancer therapy including: obesity (and sarcopenia), insulin resistance, chronically elevated c- reactive protein levels, dyslipidemia (especially increases in small, dense highly atherogenic LDL), hypertension, stroke, and ultimately an increased risk for cardiovascular death. The recognized causes of this adverse metabolic profile include: unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle, reduced cardiorespiratory fitness, altered leptin:adiponecti metabolism, and decreased muscle strength and coordination directly and indirectly attributable to the cancer therapy. While those treated with cranial radiotherapy (CRT) are at the highest risk, all ALL survivors have an excess risk compared with individuals without a history of cancer. While treatment exposures are not modifiable, evidence suggests that ALL survivors may be able to ameliorate their cardiovascular risk through improvements in diet and physical activity. A 2008 study by Robien et al. evaluated 72 ALL survivors from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) and found poor adherence to dietary guidelines. In a separate population of ALL survivors, we reported an association between unhealthy diet and increased visceral adiposity, higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, greater waist circumference, and increased body mass index; small improvements in diet appeared to be metabolically beneficial. Therefore, methods to promote weight loss and increase levels of physical activity are urgently needed to mitigate the progression of this deleterious cardiometabolic phenotype. A landmark study by Appel, Clark, and colleagues, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2011, demonstrated that significant weight loss could be achieved entirely through phone- and web- based support, compared to self-directed weight loss via printed materials and a static web page, among obese community-dwelling adults. In this study, Exercise and Quality diet After Leukemia (EQUAL), we will test the effectiveness of a remotely-delivered diet and physical activity intervention, compared to self-directed weight loss, on the deleterious cardiometabolic phenotype observed among ALL survivors. Participants (200 CRT, 200 no CRT) will be a nationwide sample of ALL survivors enrolled in the CCSS. While CRT is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and thus requires consideration among long-term survivors, the contemporary use of CRT is limited. Concurrent with the decline in use of CRT over the past 35 years, the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased dramatically. Today, many children are obese at the time of diagnosis, and so remain at risk for becoming obese long-term survivors despite non-irradiating therapies. Hence, a diet and physical activity intervention for weight loss is critically important for obese ALL survivors, regardless of whether they were treated with CRT. The EQUAL study brings together a research team with the necessary expertise and experience in obesity among adult survivors of childhood leukemia and in successful diet and physical activity interventions. This will be the first large scale weight loss study among childhood cancer survivors.

Public Health Relevance

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer, accounting for almost one-quarter of childhood cancer survivors. Yet, adult ALL survivors are at very high risk for obesity and a host of cardiometabolic diseases. The goals of this study are to 1) test the effect of a remotely-delivered diet and physical activit intervention on weight loss and cardiometabolic biomarkers among a nationwide sample of ALL survivors and 2) to identify the barriers and facilitators to weight loss in this setting.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA187397-05
Application #
9527762
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Perna, Frank
Project Start
2014-08-19
Project End
2019-07-31
Budget Start
2018-08-01
Budget End
2019-07-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
Department
Type
DUNS #
064931884
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
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Tonorezos, Emily S; Conigliaro, Joseph (2017) Integration of Cancer Survivorship Care and Primary Care Practice. JAMA Intern Med 177:1732-1734
Tonorezos, Emily S; Barnea, Dana; Moskowitz, Chaya S et al. (2017) Screening for thyroid cancer in survivors of childhood and young adult cancer treated with neck radiation. J Cancer Surviv 11:302-308
Tonorezos, Emily S; Barnea, Dana; Abou-Alfa, Ghassan K et al. (2017) Hepatocellular adenoma among adult survivors of childhood and young adult cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer 64:
Yu, Anthony F; Raikhelkar, Jayant; Zabor, Emily C et al. (2016) Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Detects Subclinical Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction among Adult Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer. Biomed Res Int 2016:9363951
Koo, Douglas J; Tonorezos, Emily S; Kumar, Chhavi B et al. (2016) Hospitalists caring for patients with advanced cancer: An experience-based guide. J Hosp Med 11:292-6
Tonorezos, Emily S; Oeffinger, Kevin C (2015) Specialty care for adult survivors of childhood cancer. Cancer 121:4279-81
Tonorezos, Emily; Overholser, Linda (2015) Caring for the adult survivor of Hodgkin lymphoma: highlighting the need for care coordination. JAMA Intern Med 175:1017-8
Tonorezos, E S; Stillwell, E E; Calloway, J J et al. (2015) Arrhythmias in the setting of hematopoietic cell transplants. Bone Marrow Transplant 50:1212-6
Tonorezos, Emily S; Hudson, Melissa M; Edgar, Angela B et al. (2015) Screening and management of adverse endocrine outcomes in adult survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 3:545-55

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