HIIT-based Exercise Intervention for Improvement of Immunomodulatory, Cardiopulmonary, and Psychosocial Parameters During Maintenance Therapy of Paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (HEALL) (HEALL)

November 9, 2026 updated by: University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School

In this study, the investigators aim to examine the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiopulmonary fitness and immunological recovery in female ALL survivors who underwent cancer treatment during childhood and adolescence.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
108

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Germany
    • Baveria
      • Erlangen, Baveria, Germany, 91054
        • University Hospital Erlangen, Department for childhood and adolescence medicine
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

6 years to 10 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed acute lymphatic leukemia
  • Begin of maintenance therapy
  • From 6 to 10 years of age
  • Physical ability to participate in HIIT and cardiopulmonary exercise testing

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known pleural or pericardial effusion
  • Critical condition (requiring respiratory support, ventilation, oxygen, shock, symptomatic heart failure)
  • Marked thoracic deformities/malformations
  • Previous lung surgery
  • Injuries that do not allow physical stress diagnostics

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Intervention Group

Total of 6 months of HIIT
Behavioral: HII-Training (HIIT) 6 Months

HIIT should be done at least 2-3 times per week. Each session's duration is 60 minutes including warm-up and cool-down. Study participation will be monitored.

Diagnostic test: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing

Treadmill Exercising Test

Diagnostic test: Echocardiography

Echocardiography with strain rate imaging

Diagnostic test: Electrocardiography (EKG)

Routine Electrocardiography

Diagnostic test: blood draw

Comprehensive fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) systematically assessing immune reconstitution of T-, B-, and NK cells after termination of intensive chemotherapy (5ml)

Diagnostic test: Questionnaire

QoL: Kid-KINDL

Diagnostic test: MSOT

Multispectral-optoacustic imaging of the calf muscle
Active Comparator: Control Group

3 months without intervention followed by 3 months of HIIT
Diagnostic test: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing

Treadmill Exercising Test

Diagnostic test: Echocardiography

Echocardiography with strain rate imaging

Diagnostic test: Electrocardiography (EKG)

Routine Electrocardiography

Diagnostic test: blood draw

Comprehensive fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) systematically assessing immune reconstitution of T-, B-, and NK cells after termination of intensive chemotherapy (5ml)

Diagnostic test: Questionnaire

QoL: Kid-KINDL

Diagnostic test: MSOT

Multispectral-optoacustic imaging of the calf muscle

Behavioral: HIT-Training (HIIT) 3 Months

HIIT should be done at least 2-3 times per week. Each session's duration is 60 minutes including warm-up and cool-down. Study participation will be monitored.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
VO2
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Oxygen uptake (VO2)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
VO2max
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

peak oxygen uptake (VO2max)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
RER
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Respiratory exchange ratio (RER)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
VT2
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VT2)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
VCO2
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Carbon dioxide output (VCO2)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
HR
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Heart rate (HR)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
HRR
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Heart Rate Reserve (HRR)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Breath rate at VAT
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Breath rate at VAT
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
BRR
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Breath rate reserve (BRR)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
VE
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

minute ventilation (VE)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
O2 Pulse
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

O2 Pulse
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
HRV
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Heart rate variability (HRV)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Echocardiography
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Myocardial function by echocardiographic strain and strain-rate imaging
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Age
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Age in years
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Gender
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Gender
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Weight
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Weight
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Blood pressure
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Blood pressure measurement
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
QoL
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Quality of Life: Kid-KINDL
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Immune reconstitution (IR)
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

T-, B- and natural killer cell count and marker expression profiles in FACS Blood sample (5ml)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO₂, MSOT)
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO₂)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Deoxygenated haemoglobin (HHb, MSOT)
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Deoxygenated haemoglobin (HHb)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Total haemoglobin (tHb, MSOT)
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Total haemoglobin (tHb)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Tissue oxygen saturation (sO₂, MSOT)
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Tissue oxygen saturation (sO₂)
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
Signal Intensity (SI, MSOT)
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

MSOT signal intensity per region of interest
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization
MSOT topogram of perfusion of the m. gastrocnemius
Time Frame: 3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

MSOT topogram of perfusion of the m. gastrocnemius
3 Time points: First evaluation: Before Randomization Second evaluation: 3 months after randomization Third evaluation: 6 months since after randomization

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF)

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2027

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 29, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • HEALL
  • TPRÄ_25_3_E_KARO (Other Grant/Funding Number: Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The raw, individual and identifiable patient data are protected and are not available due to data privacy laws. Further data sets are planned to be shared

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

The data sets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request as follows:

Individual participant data will not be available Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan will be available The data will be available beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication.

The data will be available to researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal.

The data will be available for individual participant data meta-analysis, only. Proposals may be submitted up to 36 months following article publication. After 36 months the data will be available in our University's data warehouse but without investigator support other than deposited metadata. Information regarding submitting proposals and accessing data may be found at https://www.uk-erlangen.de.

Restrictions may apply due to patient privacy and the General Data Protection Regulation.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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