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Muscle Aging in Childhood Cancer Survivors Study

This observational study is looking at why childhood cancer survivors often experience muscle weakness, low muscle mass, and sarcopenia (a type of muscle loss) earlier in life. Researchers want to understand the different biological reasons behind these muscle problems. You could be eligible if you are 18 or older and are part of the SJLIFE study. There are two groups: one with no cancer history, and another with low muscle mass or strength, especially if you were exposed to a peripheral neurotoxin (a substance that can damage nerves). The study will use advanced imaging (like MRI scans), nerve tests, and physical assessments to understand muscle health. The goal is to identify specific types of muscle issues to help develop better treatments in the future. The study plans to enroll 533 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This is an observational study that plans to enroll 533 participants. It compares childhood cancer survivors with muscle issues to a control group without a cancer history.
What's involved
You would undergo a single study visit that includes various assessments like MRI and MRS scans, body composition analysis, nerve tests, and physical performance evaluations.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Measurements for nerve function, muscle fat, and creatinine recovery are taken at a single Baseline visit.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07531498

Muscle Aging Phenotypes in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 18+Observational
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
~533 participants
Updated 2026-09-16 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Multimodal Muscle Imaging and Functional AssessmentMultimodal Muscle Imaging and Neuromuscular AssessmentComprehensive Muscle PhenotypingIntegrated Neuromuscular and Imaging Evaluation

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) at rest and Electromyography (EMG) during submaximal and maximal force generation
Measured over Baseline
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Muscle Weakness
Low Muscle Mass
Sarcopenia

Explore related trials

Childhood Cancer SurvivorsHealthy Volunteers

NCT07531498

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    Memphis, Tennesseestudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Kirsten Ness, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Who to contact

Kirsten Ness, PhD
[email protected]
888-226-4343
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age 18 years old or older at time of consent and enrolled in SJLIFE.
Participant (100 per group for a total of 400) is/has:
Group 1: No cancer history
Group 2: Age and sex specific relative lean mass z-score of less than -0.5 OR age and sex specific hand grip or isokinetic (60 degrees/sec) quadriceps strength z-score of \<-0.5 AND exposure to a peripheral neurotoxin.
Group 3: Age and sex specific relative lean mass z-score of less than -0.5 OR age and sex specific hand grip or isokinetic (60 degrees/sec) quadriceps strength z-score of \<-0.5 AND NOT exposed to a peripheral neurotoxin.
Group 4: Age and sex specific relative lean mass z-score of less than -0.5 AND age and sex specific hand grip strength or isokinetic (60 degrees/sec) quadriceps strength z-score of \<-0.5 REGARDLESS of exposure status.
Participant or legal guardian is able and willing to give informed consent.

Exclusion

Presence of implanted medical devices or metal that would interfere with MRI or MRS.
Female Participant is pregnant.
Body weight exceeding 300 pounds, due to MRI restrictions.
Inability to lie flat on his/her back for 90 minutes or longer for MRI.
Inability or unwillingness of research participant or legal guardian/representative to give written informed consent.
Presence of known radiation-induced nerve injury.
Prescence of pre-existing neurologic (non-cancer related) or who develop chronic neurologic disorders (i.e. Charcot Marie Tooth Disease, Downs, congenital brain injury).
Participation on a lifestyle or medication clinical trial within the past 1 year.

What this trial measures

  • Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) at rest and Electromyography (EMG) during submaximal and maximal force generationBaseline

    Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of sural sensory and tibial motor nerves will be performed using electromyography with standard landmarks for electrode placement. Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) and Sensory Nerve Action Potential (SNAP) amplitudes are measured from negative to positive peak, and velocities calculated based on onset latency. NCV testing at rest and EMG during submaximal and maximal force generation will allow us to characterize the impact of the peripheral nervous system and the motor unit on muscle health.

  • Creatinine recovery post exercise with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)Baseline

    The plantar flexion motion is performed during the dynamic CrCEST MRI and 31P MRS acquisitions to provide a standardized in scanner exercise stimulus that perturbs skeletal muscle energy metabolism in the calf muscles. We will perform Cr-weighted CEST MRI to map calf muscle Cr recovery kinetics following plantar flexion exercise using an ergometer device. MATLAB scripts will be used for post-processing CEST data. 31P-MRS is performed with 1H/31P dual-tuned surface/volume coil. PCr is determined by fitting the signal intensity of PCr following plantar flexion exercise to a mono-exponential function. We will acquire a steady state 31P-MR spectra for phosphorylated metabolite quantification.

  • Intramyocellular and extramyocellular fat fraction in muscle during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)Baseline

    Multiparametric MRI, 1H-MRS and Fat fraction MRI will be performed. 1H-MRS is a unique tool for studies of lipid metabolism because it is the only noninvasive method that separately quantifies Intramyocellular and extramyocellular lipids (IMCL and EMCL). Fat fraction is a metric for fat accumulation in healthy muscle tissue because of perturbed fatty acid oxidation. Dixon MRI sequence will be used to measure intramuscular fat fraction in legs and abdomen. MATLAB scripts are used for post- processing Dixon data. We will perform multiparametric quantitative MRI (PMID: 40172709). 1H-MRS is performed on a Siemens 3T scanner using Point RESolved Spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence (PMID: 3326459). A water-suppressed 1H spectrum will be acquired from a voxel positioned in gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. 1H- MRS data will be processed using LCModel (PMID: 8139448).