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ISEO – Inaugural Conference July 22nd & 23rd 2026 - organized by DKFZ

22–23 Jul 2026
Heidelberg Congress Center
Europe/Berlin timezone

Organizing Team

Effects of a structured exercise intervention in childhood cancer patients during intensive treatment: Results of the multicenter randomized controlled FORTEe trial

22 Jul 2026, 15:30
15m
Heidelberg Congress Center ( Heidelberg Congress Center )

Heidelberg Congress Center

Heidelberg Congress Center

Czernyring 20 69115 Heidelberg Germany
3 - Talk Oral Session

Speaker

Lena Wypyrsczyk (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Childhood Cancer Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany)

Description

Background: Despite substantial advances in treatment, children and adolescents with cancer continue to face high morbidity and health issues, including cancer-related fatigue, treatment-related complications, and physical inactivity. Integrating exercise into pediatric oncology care has emerged as a promising approach to mitigate these burdens during cancer treatment. While preliminary data support its potential to reduce treatment-related side effects and enhance quality of life, robust evidence -especially from large, multicenter trials- remains limited. The aim of the randomized, controlled, multicenter FORTEe trial was to evaluate a personalized and standardized exercise intervention in children, adolescents, and young adults undergoing cancer treatment across ten centers in Europe.
Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to either the exercise intervention group, receiving a tailored, supervised 8–10 weeks lasting exercise program, or the control group, which received usual care. The exercise program includes endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance training, adapted to each patient’s age, fitness, and cancer treatment phase. Exercise sessions were intended to take place 3–5 times a week with moderate intensity, with both frequency and intensity adapted to the clinical condition of the individual. Digital tools and telehealth solutions supported the intervention, allowing for both in-person and remote training.
Results: A total of 478 childhood cancer patients (mean age: 11.6 ± 4.4 years; 43 % female) were enrolled in the trial. The formal evaluation is ongoing, and the corresponding data will be available for presentation at the ISEO Inaugural Conference in July 2026.
Conclusion: As a progress beyond the current state-of-the-art, FORTEe has the ambition to implement pediatric exercise oncology as an evidence-based treatment option for all childhood cancer patients, ultimately integrating it as a standard into clinical practice worldwide.

Keywords

Childhood cancer, Exercise intervention, Randomized controlled trial, Cancer-related fatigue

Abstract submitters declaration yes
Conflict of Interest & Ethical Approval yes

Author

Lena Wypyrsczyk (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Childhood Cancer Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany)

Co-authors

Marie A. Neu (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Childhood Cancer Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany) Elias Dreismickenbecker (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Childhood Cancer Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany) Adriana Balduzzi (Fondazione Monza e Brianza per Il Bambino e La Sua Mamma, Centro Maria Letizia Verga, 20900 Monza, Italy) Barbara Heißerer (Concentris research management gmbh, Project Management, 82256 Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany) Hayley Marriott (Oxford Brookes University, Department of Sport and Health Science and Social Work, OX3 0BP Oxford, UK) Norbert W. Paul (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Institute for the History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, 55131 Mainz, Germany) Eila Watson (Oxford Brookes University, Department of Sport and Health Science and Social Work, OX3 0BP Oxford, UK) Wilhelm Bloch (German Sport University Cologne, Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine at the Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, 50933 Cologne, Germany) Martin Kaj Fridh (University Hospital Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark) Miriam Götte (University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, 45122 Essen, Germany) Lidija Kitanovski (University Medical Center Ljubljana, Division of Pediatrics, Department of Haematooncology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia) Barbara Konda (Forma 3D Ltd., Forma 3D, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia) Alejandro Lucia (Department of Sports Sciences. Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports. Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain) Rodolf Mongondry (Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer Léon Bérard, Prevention Cancer Environment Department, 69373 Lyon, France) Katie Rizvi (Youth Cancer Europe, Youth Cancer Europe, 400 372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania) Filippo Spreafico (Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Pediatric Oncology Unit, 20133 Milan, Italy) Hanne Bækgaard Larsen (University Hospital Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark) Nikolai Bauer (Heidelberg University Hospital and National Center for Tumor Diseases, a partnership between DKFZ and University Medical Center Heidelberg, Department of Medical Oncology, Working Group Exercise Oncology, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany) Ronja Beller (University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, 45122 Essen, Germany) Carmen Fiuza-Luces (Hospital 12 de Octubre Research Institute, 'imas12‚, Physical Activity and Health Laboratory, 28041 Madrid, Spain) Mareike Kühn (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Childhood Cancer Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany) Tommaso P. Moriggi (Fondazione Monza e Brianza per Il Bambino e La Sua Mamma, Centro Maria Letizia Verga, 20900 Monza, Italy) Olivia Pérol (Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer Léon Bérard, Prevention Cancer Environment Department, 69373 Lyon, France) Franziska Olivier (Heidelberg University Hospital and National Center for Tumor Diseases, a partnership between DKFZ and University Medical Center Heidelberg, Department of Medical Oncology, Working Group Exercise Oncology, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany) Domen Ravnik (University Medical Center Ljubljana, Division of Pediatrics, Department of Haematooncology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia) Meta Rovan (University Medical Center Ljubljana, Division of Pediatrics, Department of Haematooncology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia) Christian Ruckes (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Interdisciplinary Centre for clinical Studies (IZKS), 55131 Mainz, Germany) Eva S.C. Ramos (Hospital 12 de Octubre Research Institute, 'imas12‚, Physical Activity and Health Laboratory, 28041 Madrid, Spain) Alba Solera-Sanchez (Oxford Brookes University, Department of Sport and Health Science and Social Work, OX3 0BP Oxford, UK) Milica Stefanović (University Medical Center Ljubljana, Division of Pediatrics, Department of Haematooncology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia) William Zardo (Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Pediatric Oncology Unit, 20133 Milan, Italy) Francesca Lanfranconi (Fondazione Monza e Brianza per Il Bambino e La Sua Mamma, Centro Maria Letizia Verga, 20900 Monza, Italy) Joachim Wiskemann (Heidelberg University Hospital and National Center for Tumor Diseases, a partnership between DKFZ and University Medical Center Heidelberg, Department of Medical Oncology, Working Group Exercise Oncology, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany) Joerg Faber (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Childhood Cancer Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany)

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