Feasibility of High Intensity Interval Training in Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma

This pilot study evaluates the feasibility of a 12-week high intensity interval training (HIIT) program in survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult Hodgkin lymphoma within 24 months of completing treatment. Preliminary efficacy of the HIIT intervention for improved cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, physical function, autonomic response to exercise, peripheral neuropathy, biological aging markers, and physical activity will also be evaluated.

Primary Objective:

To determine the feasibility of a 12-week high intensity interval training (HIIT) program in survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult Hodgkin lymphoma within 24 months of completing treatment.

Feasibility will be assessed by:

• Participation Rate: Number of eligible survivors approached who enroll.
• Completion Rate: Number of scheduled HIIT sessions attended and number of enrolled participants who complete post-intervention testing.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Detailed Description

Hodgkin lymphoma survivors face elevated risks of cardiovascular disease and premature aging. HIIT, which alternates high-intensity effort with recovery periods, has shown benefits in adult cancer survivors but has not been tested in younger populations. This study will assess whether recently treated survivors can complete a remotely supervised 12-week HIIT program and evaluate its effects on multiple health outcomes. Participants will undergo baseline and post-intervention assessments including exercise testing, body composition, autonomic function, and blood biomarkers. The intervention is delivered via a secure web-based platform with live supervision by exercise physiologists.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Amy Berkman, MD; Phone Number: 888-226-4343; Email: referralinfo@stjude.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • Tennessee
    • Memphis, Tennessee, United States, 38105
      • Recruiting
      • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
      • Contact: Amy Berkman, MD; Phone Number: 888-226-4343; Email: referralinfo@stjude.org

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participant has been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma between the ages of 10 to 25 years.
• Participant is between the ages of >10 and <25 years old the time of enrollment.
• Participant has completed treatment (end of chemotherapy for those not receiving radiation therapy or end of radiation therapy) for Hodgkin lymphoma within 24 months prior to enrollment and recovered from any acute treatment-related adverse events.
• Participant has been medically cleared to participate in physical activity.
• Participant verbalizes understanding of directions for use of the web-based platform on the study provided iPad and heart rate monitor.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participant has evidence of relapsed disease.
• Participant has a diagnosis of acute heart failure.
• Participant reports currently participating in HIIT training or >420 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity.
• Female participant who is currently pregnant.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: HIIT Intervention Group; Participants will complete a 12-week HIIT program with three 25-minute sessions per week. Each session includes warm-up, five cycles of high-intensity intervals (80-95% peak HR) and recovery periods (50-60% peak HR), and cool-down.	Behavioral: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT); Participants will complete a 12-week HIIT program with three 25-minute sessions per week. Each session includes warm-up, five cycles of high-intensity intervals (80-95% peak HR) and recovery periods (50-60% peak HR), and cool-down.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Participation rate (percent of eligible participants approached who enroll)	Descriptive statistics will be reported	Trial completion (12 weeks)
Completion rate (percentage of scheduled HIIT sessions attended and percentage of post-intervention testing sessions completed)	Descriptive statistics will be reported	Trial completion (12 weeks)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak, ml/kg/min)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Ewing battery score of autonomic function (0 to 5 points)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Hand grip strength (kg)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Knee extension strength (N/kg)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Modified total neuropathy scale (0 to 24 points)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
DNA methylation	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Mitochondrial DNA copy number	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Telomere length (kb)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (mg/L)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Interleukin-6 (pg/mL)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Physical activity (kilocalories per week)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Body mass index (weight and height will be combined to report body mass index in kg/m2)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Percent body fat (%)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Lean mass percentage (%)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks
Visceral fat level (score)	Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 12 weeks will be reported	baseline at study entry, 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Amy Berkman, MD, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• Clinical Trials Open at St. Jude

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 27, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 27, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): October 29, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 4, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 2, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Childhood Cancer Survivor
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms; Immune System Diseases; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Lymphatic Diseases; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Immunoproliferative Disorders; Lymphoma; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Hodgkin Disease; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; High-Intensity Interval Training
• Other Study ID Numbers: FITHOD

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No