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Treatment outcomes among survivors of cancer diagnosed during adolescence and early young adulthood have not been characterised independently of survivors of cancers diagnosed during childhood. We aimed to describe chronic health conditions and all-cause and cause-specific mortality among survivors of early-adolescent and young adult cancer. The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) is a retrospective cohort study with longitudinal follow-up of 5-year survivors diagnosed with cancer before the age of 21 years at 27 academic institutions in the USA and Canada between 1970 and 1999. We evaluated outcomes among survivors of early-adolescent and young adult cancer (aged 15–20 years at diagnosis) and survivors diagnosed at age younger than 15 years (matched on primary cancer diagnosis, including leukaemia, lymphoma, CNS tumours, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumour, soft-tissue sarcomas, and bone cancer) by comparing both groups to siblings of the same age. Mortality was ascertained with the National Death Index. Chronic health conditions were classified with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were estimated with age-specific, sex-specific, and calendar year-specific US rates. Cox proportional hazard models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for chronic health conditions and 95% CIs. Among 5804 early-adolescent and young adult survivors (median age 42 years, IQR 34–50) the SMR compared to the general population for all-cause mortality was 5·9 (95% CI 5·5–6·2) and among 5804 childhood cancer survivors (median age 34 years; 27–42), it was 6·2 (5·8–6·6). Early-adolescent and young adult survivors had lower SMRs for death from health-related causes (ie, conditions that exclude recurrence or progression of the primary cancer and external causes, but include the late effects of cancer therapy) than did childhood cancer survivors (SMR 4·8 [95% CI 4·4–5·1] vs 6·8 [6·2–7·4]), which was primarily evident more than 20 years after cancer diagnosis. Early-adolescent and young adult cancer survivors and childhood cancer survivors were both at greater risk of developing severe and disabling, life-threatening, or fatal (grade 3–5) health conditions than siblings of the same age (HR 4·2 [95% CI 3·7–4·8] for early adolescent and young adult cancer survivors and 5·6 [4·9–6·3] for childhood cancer survivors), and at increased risk of developing grade 3–5 cardiac (4·3 [3·5–5·4] and 5·6 [4·5–7·1]), endocrine (3·9 [2·9–5·1] and 6·4 [5·1–8·0]), and musculoskeletal conditions (6·5 [3·9–11·1] and 8·0 [4·6–14·0]) when compared with siblings of the same age, although all these risks were lower for early-adolescent and young adult survivors than for childhood cancer survivors. Early-adolescent and young adult cancer survivors had higher risks of mortality and severe and life threatening chronic health conditions than the general population. However, early-adolescent and young adult cancer survivors had lower non-recurrent, health-related SMRs and relative risks of developing grade 3–5 chronic health conditions than childhood cancer survivors, by comparison with siblings of the same age, which were most notable more than 20 years after their original cancer. These results highlight the need for long-term screening of both childhood and early-adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. National Cancer Institute and American Lebanese-Syrian Associated Charities.

Treatments for childhood cancer have evolved over the past 50 years, with the goal of maximising the proportion of patients who achieve long-term survival, while minimising the adverse effects of therapy. We aimed to assess incidence patterns of serious chronic health conditions in long-term survivors of childhood cancer across three decades of diagnosis and treatment. We used data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, a retrospective cohort with longitudinal follow-up of 5-year survivors of common childhood cancers (leukaemia, tumours of the CNS, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms tumour, neuroblastoma, soft tissue sarcoma, or bone tumours) who were diagnosed before the age of 21 years and from 1970 to 1999 in North America. We examined the cumulative incidence of severe to fatal chronic health conditions occurring up to 20 years post-diagnosis among survivors, compared by diagnosis decade. We used multivariable regression models to estimate hazard ratios per diagnosis decade, and we added treatment variables to assess whether treatment changes attenuated associations between diagnosis decade and chronic disease risk. Among 23 601 survivors with a median follow-up of 21 years (IQR 15–25), the 20-year cumulative incidence of at least one grade 3–5 chronic condition decreased significantly from 33·2% (95% CI 32·0–34·3) in those diagnosed 1970–79 to 29·3% (28·4–30·2; p<0·0001) in 1980–89, and 27·5% (26·4–28·6; p=0·012 vs 1980–89) in 1990–99. By comparison, the 20-year cumulative incidence of at least one grade 3–5 condition in 5051 siblings was 4·6% (95% CI 3·9–5·2). The 15-year cumulative incidence of at least one grade 3–5 condition was lower for survivors diagnosed 1990–99 compared with those diagnosed 1970–79 for Hodgkin lymphoma (17·7% [95% CI 15·0–20·5] vs 26·4% [23·8–29·1]; p<0·0001), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (16·9% [14·0–19·7] vs 23·8% [19·9–27·7]; p=0.0053), astrocytoma (30·5% [27·8–33·2] vs 47·3% [42·9–51·7]; p<0·0001), Wilms tumour (11·9% [9·5–14·3] vs 17·6% [14·3–20·8]; p=0·034), soft tissue sarcoma (28·3% [23·5–33·1] vs 36·5% [31·5–41·4]; p=0·021), and osteosarcoma (65·6% [60·6–70·6] vs 87·5% [84·1–91·0]; p<0·0001). By contrast, the 15-year cumulative incidence of at least one grade 3–5 condition was higher (1990–99 vs 1970–79) for medulloblastoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumour (58·9% [54·4–63·3] vs 42·9% [34·9–50·9]; p=0·00060), and neuroblastoma (25·0% [21·8–28·2] vs 18·0% [14·5–21·6]; p=0·0045). Results were consistent with changes in treatment as a significant mediator of the association between diagnosis decade and risk of grade 3–5 chronic conditions for astrocytoma (HR per decade without treatment in the model = 0·77, 95% CI 0·64–0·92; HR with treatment in the model=0·89, 95% CI 0·72–1·11; pmediation=0·0085) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HR without treatment=0·75, 95% CI 0·65–0·85; HR with treatment=0·91, 95% CI 0·73–1·12; pmediation=0·024). Temporal decreases in 15-year cumulative incidence comparing survivors diagnosed 1970–79 to survivors diagnosed 1990–99 were noted for endocrinopathies (5·9% [5·3–6·4] vs 2·8% [2·5–3·2]; p<0·0001), subsequent malignant neoplasms (2·7% [2·3–3·1] vs 1·9% [1·6–2·2]; p=0·0033), musculoskeletal conditions (5·8% [5·2–6·4] vs 3·3% [2·9–3·6]; p<0·0001), and gastrointestinal conditions (2·3% [2·0–2·7] vs 1·5% [1·3–1·8]; p=0·00037), while hearing loss increased (3·0% [2·6–3·5] vs 5·7% [5·2–6·1]; p<0·0001). Our results suggest that more recently treated survivors of childhood cancer had improvements in health outcomes, consistent with efforts over the same time period to modify childhood cancer treatment regimens to maximise overall survival, while reducing risk of long-term adverse events. Continuing advances in cancer therapy offer promise of further reducing the risk of long-term adverse events in childhood cancer survivors. However, achieving long-term survival for childhood cancer continues to come at a cost for many survivors, emphasising the importance of long-term follow-up care for this population. National Cancer Institute and the American Lebanese-Syrian Associated Charities.

Survivors of childhood cancer treated with anthracycline chemotherapy or chest radiation are at an increased risk of developing congestive heart failure. In this population, congestive heart failure is well recognised as a progressive disorder, with a variable period of asymptomatic cardiomyopathy that precedes signs and symptoms. As a result, several clinical practice guidelines have been developed independently to help with detection and treatment of asymptomatic cardiomyopathy. These guidelines differ with regards to definitions of at-risk populations, surveillance modality and frequency, and recommendations for interventions. Differences between these guidelines could hinder the effective implementation of these recommendations. We report on the results of an international collaboration to harmonise existing cardiomyopathy surveillance recommendations using an evidence-based approach that relied on standardised definitions for outcomes of interest and transparent presentation of the quality of the evidence. The resultant recommendations were graded according to the quality of the evidence and the potential benefit gained from early detection and intervention.

Alterations in treatment intensity and decreased use of radiation therapy have reduced the risk of late treatment-related death in long-term survivors of childhood cancer. In the 1960s, fewer than half the children in whom cancer was diagnosed were still alive 5 years later. 1 Now, more than 83% of patients with a childhood cancer in the United States become 5-year survivors of the disease. 2 As a result, in 2013 it was estimated that there were more than 420,000 survivors of childhood cancer in the United States and that by the year 2020 this number would surpass 500,000. 3 Increased success in the treatment of childhood cancers has been achieved through the systematic conduct of clinical trials to assess the efficacy of multimodal approaches involving combination chemotherapy, . . .

Complementary Health Approaches (CHA) are commonly used by children with cancer; however, a few health care providers (HCPs) inquire about the use of CHA. A standardized questionnaire could facilitate such clinical discussions. We aimed to adapt and determine the face and content validity of the \"Which Health Approaches and Treatments are you using?\" (WHAT) child and parent-report questionnaires in pediatric oncology. An electronic Delphi survey that included children with cancer (8-18 years), parents, and HCPs and CHA researchers was conducted to reach consensus on the content of the WHAT questionnaires in pediatric oncology. Children and parents from the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), and HCPs and researchers from the International Society of Pediatric Oncology and Pediatric Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research and Education Network completed the survey. To determine the face and content validity of the questionnaires, two iterative cycles of individual interviews were conducted with purposive samples of children (8-18 years), parents, and HCPs from SickKids. Consensus was reached on all domains and items of the original WHAT questionnaires after one Delphi cycle (n = 61). For face and content validity testing, the first cycle of interviews (n = 19) revealed that the questionnaires were mostly comprehensive and relevant. However, the paper-based format of the original WHAT was not user-friendly, and generic items were vague and not aimed at facilitating clinical dialogues about CHA use. The WHAT questionnaires were then modified into electronic cancer-specific self- and proxy-report questionnaires including 13 and 15 items, respectively. The second cycle (n = 21) showed no need for further changes. The modified electronic cancer-specific WHAT questionnaires showed adequate face and content validity. The next step is to determine inter-rater reliability, construct validity, and feasibility of administration of the modified WHAT questionnaires in pediatric oncology.

Cancer treatment can cause gonadal impairment. Acute ovarian failure is defined as the permanent loss of ovarian function within 5 years of cancer diagnosis. We aimed to develop and validate risk prediction tools to provide accurate clinical guidance for paediatric patients with cancer. In this cohort study, prediction models of acute ovarian failure risk were developed using eligible female US and Canadian participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) cohort and validated in the St Jude Lifetime Cohort (SJLIFE) Study. 5-year survivors from the CCSS cohort were included if they were at least 18 years old at their most recent follow-up and had complete treatment exposure and adequate menstrual history (including age at menarche, current menstrual status, age at last menstruation, and menopausal aetiology) information available. Participants in the SJLIFE cohort were at least 10-year survivors. Participants were excluded from the prediction analysis if they had an ovarian hormone deficiency, had missing exposure information, or had indeterminate ovarian status. The outcome of acute ovarian failure was defined as permanent loss of ovarian function within 5 years of cancer diagnosis or no menarche after cancer treatment by the age of 18 years. Logistic regression, random forest, and support vector machines were used as candidate methods to develop the risk prediction models in the CCSS cohort. Prediction performance was evaluated internally (in the CCSS cohort) and externally (in the SJLIFE cohort) using the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the precision-recall curve (average precision [AP; average positive predictive value]). Data from the CCSS cohort were collected for participants followed up between Nov 3, 1992, and Nov 25, 2016, and from the SJLIFE cohort for participants followed up between Oct 17, 2007, and April 16, 2012. Of 11 336 female CCSS participants, 5886 (51·9%) met all inclusion criteria for analysis. 1644 participants were identified from the SJLIFE cohort, of whom 875 (53·2%) were eligible for analysis. 353 (6·0%) of analysed CCSS participants and 50 (5·7%) of analysed SJLIFE participants had acute ovarian failure. The overall median follow-up for the CCSS cohort was 23·9 years (IQR 20·4–27·9), and for SJLIFE it was 23·9 years (19·0–30·0). The three candidate methods (logistic regression, random forest, and support vector machines) yielded similar results, and a prescribed dose model with abdominal and pelvic radiation doses and an ovarian dose model with ovarian radiation dosimetry using logistic regression were selected. Common predictors in both models were history of haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, cumulative alkylating drug dose, and an interaction between age at cancer diagnosis and haematopoietic stem-cell transplant. External validation of the model in the SJLIFE cohort produced an estimated AUC of 0·94 (95% CI 0·90–0·98) and AP of 0·68 (95% CI 0·53–0·81) for the ovarian dose model, and AUC of 0·96 (0·94–0·97) and AP of 0·46 (0·34–0·61) for the prescribed dose model. Based on these models, an online risk calculator has been developed for clinical use. Both acute ovarian failure risk prediction models performed well. The ovarian dose model is preferred if ovarian radiation dosimetry is available. The models, along with the online risk calculator, could help clinical discussions regarding the need for fertility preservation interventions in girls and young women newly diagnosed with cancer. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, National Cancer Institute, and American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities.

ABSTRACTBackgroundAdult survivors of childhood cancer are at elevated risk of morbidity and mortality compared to the general population, but their adherence to lifelong periodic surveillance is suboptimal. We aimed to examine adherence to surveillance guidelines for high-yield tests and identify risk factors for nonadherence in adult survivors of childhood cancer. MethodsIn this retrospective, population-based cohort study, we used health care administrative data from Ontario, Canada, to identify adult survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed between 1986 and 2014 who were at elevated risk of therapy-related colorectal cancer, breast cancer, or cardiomyopathy. Using a Poisson regression framework, we assessed longitudinal adherence and predictors of adherence to the Children’s Oncology Group surveillance guideline. ResultsAmong 3241 survivors, 327 (10%), 234 (7%), and 3205 (99%) were at elevated risk for colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and cardiomyopathy, respectively. Within these cohorts, only 13%, 6%, and 53% were adherent to recommended surveillance as of February 2020. During a median follow-up of 7.8 years, the proportion of time spent adherent was 14% among survivors at elevated risk for colorectal cancer, 10% for breast cancer, and 43% for cardiomyopathy. Significant predictors of adherence varied across the risk groups, but higher comorbidity was associated with adherence to recommended surveillance. InterpretationSurvivors of childhood cancer in Ontario are rarely up to date for recommended surveillance tests. Tailored interventions beyond specialized clinics are needed to improve surveillance adherence.

Pain is one of the most common and distressing symptoms reported by adolescents with cancer. Despite advancements in pain assessment and management research, pain due to cancer and/or its treatments continues to be poorly managed. Our research group has developed a native iPhone application (app) called Pain Squad to tackle the problem of poorly managed pain in the adolescent with cancer group. The app functions as an electronic pain diary and is unique in its ability to collect data on pain intensity, duration, location, and the impact pain has on an adolescent's life (ie, relationships, school work, sleep, mood). It also evaluates medications and other physical and psychological pain management strategies used. Users are prompted twice daily at configurable times to complete 20 questions characterizing their pain and the app transmits results to a database for aggregate reporting through a Web interface. Each diary entry represents a pain case filed by an adolescent with cancer and a reward system (ie, moving up through law-enforcement team ranks, built-in videotaped acknowledgements from fictitious officers) encourages consistent use of the diary. Our objective was to design, develop, and test the usability, feasibility, compliance, and satisfaction of a game-based smartphone pain assessment tool for adolescents with cancer. We used both low- and high-fidelity qualitative usability testing with qualitative semi-structured, audio-taped interviews and iterative cycles to design and refine the iPhone based Pain Squad app. Qualitative thematic analysis of interviews using constant comparative methodology captured emergent themes related to app usability. Content validity was assessed using question importance-rating surveys completed by participants. Compliance and satisfaction data were collected following a 2-week feasibility trial where users were alarmed to record their pain twice daily on the app. Thematic analysis of usability interviews showed the app to be appealing overall to adolescents. Analyses of both low- and high-fidelity testing resulted in minor revisions to the app to refine the theme and improve its usability. Adolescents resoundingly endorsed the game-based nature of the app and its virtual reward system. The importance of app pain diary questions was established by content validity analysis. Compliance with the app, assessed during feasibility testing, was high (mean 81%, SD 22%) and adolescents from this phase of the study found the app likeable, easy to use, and not bothersome to complete. A multifaceted usability approach demonstrated how the Pain Squad app could be made more appealing to children and adolescents with cancer. The game-based nature and built-in reward system of the app was appealing to adolescents and may have resulted in the high compliance rates and satisfaction ratings observed during clinical feasibility testing.

Female survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), defined as the cessation of gonadal function before the age of 40 years. We aimed to develop and validate models to predict age-specific POI risk among long-term survivors of childhood cancer. To develop models to predict age-specific POI risk for the ages of 21–40 years, we used data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). Female survivors aged 18 years or older at their latest follow-up, with self-reported menstrual history information and free of subsequent malignant neoplasms within 5 years of diagnosis, were included. We evaluated models that used algorithms based on statistical or machine learning to consider all predictors, including cancer treatments. Cross-validated prediction performance metrics (eg, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC]) were compared to select the best-performing models. For external validation of the models, we used data from 5-year survivors in the St Jude Lifetime Cohort (SJLIFE) with ovarian status clinically ascertained using hormone measurements (menopause defined by follicle stimulating hormone >30 mIU/mL and oestradiol <17 pg/mL) and medical chart or questionnaire review. We also evaluated an SJLIFE-based polygenic risk score for POI among 1985 CCSS survivors with genotype data available. 7891 female CCSS survivors (922 with POI) were included in the development of the POI risk prediction model, and 1349 female SJLIFE survivors (101 with POI) were included in the validation study. Median follow-up from cancer diagnosis was 23·7 years (IQR 18·3–30·0) in CCSS and 15·1 years (10·4–22·9) in SJLIFE. Between the ages of 21 and 40 years, POI prevalence increased from 7·9% (95% CI 7·3–8·5) to 18·6% (17·3–20·0) in CCSS and 7·3% (5·8–8·9) to 14·9% (11·6–19·1) in SJLIFE. Age-specific logistic regression models considering ovarian radiation dosimetry or prescribed pelvic and abdominal radiation dose, along with individual chemotherapy predictors, performed well in CCSS. In the SJLIFE validation, the prescribed radiation dose model performed well (AUROC 0·88–0·95), as did a simpler model that considered any exposures to pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy or alkylators (0·82–0·90). Addition of the polygenic risk predictor significantly improved the average positive predictive value (from 0·76 [95% CI 0·63–0·89] to 0·87 [0·80–0·94]; p=0·029) among CCSS survivors treated with ovarian radiation and chemotherapy. POI risk prediction models using treatment information showed robust prediction performance in adult survivors of childhood cancer. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, US National Cancer Institute.

Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for development of subsequent neoplasms of the CNS. Better understanding of the rates, risk factors, and outcomes of subsequent neoplasms of the CNS among survivors of childhood cancer could lead to more informed screening guidelines. Two investigators independently did a systematic search of Medline and Embase (from January, 1966, through March, 2012) for studies examining subsequent neoplasms of the CNS among survivors of childhood cancer. Articles were selected to answer three questions: what is the risk of CNS tumours after radiation to the cranium for a paediatric cancer, compared with the risk in the general population; what are the outcomes in children with subsequent neoplasms of the CNS who received CNS-directed radiation for a paediatric cancer; and, are outcomes of subsequent neoplasms different from primary neoplasms of the same histology? Our search identified 72 reports, of which 18 were included in this Review. These studies reported that childhood cancer survivors have an 8·1–52·3-times higher incidence of subsequent CNS neoplasms compared with the general population. Nearly all cancer survivors who developed a CNS neoplasm had been exposed to cranial radiation, and some studies showed a correlation between radiation dose and risk of subsequent CNS tumours. 5-year survival ranged from 0–19·5% for subsequent high-grade gliomas and 57·3–100% for meningiomas, which are similar rates to those observed in patients with primary gliomas or meningiomas. The quality of evidence was limited by variation in study design, heterogeneity of details regarding treatment and outcomes, limited follow-up, and small sample sizes. We conclude that survivors of childhood cancer who received cranial radiation therapy have an increased risk for subsequent CNS neoplasms. The current literature is insufficient to comment about the potential harms and benefits of routine screening for subsequent CNS neoplasms.