CANUT Junior : Assessment of Sensory Abilities and Eating Behavior in Pediatric Oncology: a Feasibility Study

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

tests: The measures that are taken are, olfactory and gustatory capacities, measurement of salivary quantity and quality, preference and acceptance of textures. We also assess the state of oral health, dietary habits and food consumption with questionnaires. Measurements of weight, height and BMI are taken, and nutritional status is assessed. The Easy Assessment Score of Ingesta is also used for an early diagnosis of the risk of malnutrition or undernutrition and finally the quality of life with the help of a questionnaire.

Study summary

Cancer treatments in children are very intense and often cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and changes in taste and smell. These sensory alterations can impact eating habits, but they are still poorly understood in children. The study aims to assess whether it is feasible to measure these sensory changes (taste, smell, salivation, and food preferences) in children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment.

This study is a feasibility study with 30 patients aged 7 to 17 years, treated at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Institute (IHOPE) in Lyon. Sensory tests and questionnaires to evaluate the perceptions, oral health, eating habits, nutritional status, and quality of life are used.

The inclusion was initially planned at diagnosis, before any administration of chemotherapy. However, the study quickly encountered a recruitment problem due to the emotional impact and medical burden of this initial period of care (study offered to 11 families over a period of 5 months, 3 patients included). An amendment to the protocol was therefore made to be able to modify the inclusion period after the completion of chemotherapy. This modification was implemented on May 15, 2025, and allowed the inclusion of two new patients, making a total of 5 patients. Of these 5 patients, two completed all the tests during V0 and V1, two completed V0 but not V1, one did not complete any of the visits.

This feasibility phase will help determine whether the tools are suitable and well accepted. The results will be used to design a larger study aimed at better understanding how taste and smell alterations influence the eating behaviors of young patients during cancer treatment. Recruitment will continue for six more months in order to reach the target number of participants.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• To determine the feasibility of testing olfactory, gustatory, and salivary function in children aged 7 to 17 years undergoing chemotherapy. — T0 : first day of the second cycle of chemotherapy; T1 : 1 month after T0
  Completion rate: proportion of patients who complete all of the following tests in full at both measurement times. The tests will be considered feasible if at least 60% of patients complete all of the tests

Trial sites (1)

More Centre Leon Berard trials in France

Other trials for the same condition