Nutrition Aspect of Cancer

This is a single institution feasibility study of the updated RestoreMe app. The investigators plan to recruit 150 participants to this study with participants being recruited either prior to the initiation of their curative treatment or during and after completion of their cancer therapy. This design will allow the investigators to assess the feasibility of using the RestoreMe app in both the active treatment setting and follow up/survivorship setting. Information gathered from this feasibility study will inform future trial design for prospective intervention using the RestoreMe app.

Nutritional status is a measurable and modifiable factor that is often not considered during treatment and its clinical impact undervalued due in part to the heavy demands on clinicians in low and middle income countries to deliver therapy to large numbers of patients. The proposed study will create a biobank of clinical data and biological specimens which will foster future studies on cancer progression and prognosis as well as toxicities during treatment which may impact survivorship and late-effects. Eligible patients must be between 3 years and 18 years of age at time of assent/consent, have newly diagnosed B- or T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or mixed phenotype acute leukemia confirmed by pathology report, and must be receiving treatment at one of the participating centers. Patients receiving hematopoietic cell transplant will be excluded. Institutions were selected to ensure representation of several global health indicators related to nutritional status and wealth classification according to the World Bank. Data related to demographic variables (socioeconomic status, food security), lifestyle habits (diet, physical activity), nutritional anthropometrics (height, weight and arm anthropometry), and nutritional biological indices (stool and blood) will be collected at designated timepoints throughout treatment and one year after the end of treatment.

Pediatric cancer and the therapies used in treatment can affect nutritional status, which can impact treatment tolerance, survival, and overall well-being. Poorly managed side effects can lead to long-term poor dietary habits. Caregivers who endure the psychosocial toll of these effects, also face risks to their own well-being. Prioritizing interventions that enhance caregivers' ability to provide quality care and improve long-term health is crucial. The primary aim of this study is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of an 8-week culinary medicine intervention with caregiver coaching for caregivers of children undergoing cancer treatment. The secondary aim is to estimate the effect of the intervention on caregiving preparedness, caregiver self-confidence for managing patient treatment side effects, eating-related distress, and dietary intake. In-depth interviews will explore participant experiences and perspectives on the feasibility and acceptability of the culinary nutrition program, and to inform interpretation of findings and future program refinement.