Muscle Aging Phenotypes in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Conditions

• Low Muscle Mass
• Muscle Weakness
• Sarcopenia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Multimodal Muscle Imaging and Functional Assessment — OTHER
  Participants undergo comprehensive muscle phenotyping, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess muscle cross-sectional area and fat fraction; magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS and ³¹P MRS) to evaluate skeletal muscle mitochondrial energetics; body composition assessment using dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA); nerve conduction velocity testing; surface electromyography (EMG); and standardized physical performance testing.
• Multimodal Muscle Imaging and Neuromuscular Assessment — OTHER
  Participants complete advanced neuromuscular and imaging assessments, including MRI-based evaluation of muscle structure and fat infiltration; magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess mitochondrial oxidative metabolism; DXA and BIA for lean mass measurement; nerve conduction studies; surface electromyography during submaximal and maximal muscle activation; and physical function testing, performed during a single study visit.
• Comprehensive Muscle Phenotyping — OTHER
  Participants undergo protocol-defined observational assessments including MRI and MRS of skeletal muscle, body composition analysis via DXA and BIA, neuromuscular testing with nerve conduction velocity and surface electromyography, and functional performance evaluations to characterize muscle health and underlying biological mechanisms.
• Integrated Neuromuscular and Imaging Evaluation — OTHER
  Participants receive integrated phenotyping of muscle health using multimodal MRI and MRS imaging, neuromuscular testing with EMG and nerve conduction velocity, body composition assessment, and standardized physical performance measures to identify muscle aging endotypes.

Study Details

Childhood cancer survivors experience premature declines in muscle mass, strength, and physical function that contribute to morbidity and early mortality. The biological mechanisms driving these impairments are heterogeneous and poorly understood. This observational study aims to characterize distinct muscle health endotypes in adult survivors of childhood cancer using advanced imaging, neuromuscular testing, and functional assessment. Survivors with reduced muscle health and community controls will undergo multimodal magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, nerve conduction studies, surface electromyography, body composition assessment, and physical performance testing during a single study visit integrated into an ongoing cohort evaluation. Identifying mechanistic endotypes of impaired muscle health will support development of targeted interventions to preserve function and improve long-term outcomes in childhood cancer survivors. Primary Objective: \- Characterize reduced muscle health endotypes in childhood cancer survivors. Secondary Objective: \- Identify specific treatment and lifestyle related risk factors for each reduced muscle health endotype. Exploratory Objective: \- Host germline genetics will be associated with specific muscle endotypes.

Key Dates

Start date

May 31, 2026

Status verified

Apr 2026

Primary completion

May 31, 2030

Completion

May 31, 2031

Study Design

Enrollment

533 participants (estimated)

Arms

• Arm: Community Controls
  Adults with no history of cancer recruited from the community or non-first-degree relatives of St. Jude patients.
• Arm: Survivors With Low Lean Mass or Weakness and Peripheral Neurotoxin Exposure
  Adult childhood cancer survivors with low lean mass and/or muscle weakness and documented exposure to peripheral neurotoxic therapies.
• Arm: Survivors With Low Lean Mass or Weakness Without Peripheral Neurotoxin Exposure
  Adult childhood cancer survivors with low lean mass and/or muscle weakness and no history of exposure to peripheral neurotoxic therapies.
• Arm: Survivors With Low Lean Mass and Muscle Weakness (Regardless of Neurotoxin Exposure)
  Adult childhood cancer survivors meeting criteria for both low lean mass and muscle weakness, irrespective of treatment exposure.

Primary Outcome Measure

Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) at rest and Electromyography (EMG) during submaximal and maximal force generation [ Time Frame: Baseline ]

Central Contacts

• Kirsten Ness, PhD
  888-226-4343
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in Memphis, TN

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