Resistance and Aerobic Exercise for Subclinical Anthracycline Cardiomyopathy

This study will evaluate the feasibility of a 12-week exercise intervention on the cardiac function of survivors of childhood cancer treated with anthracyclines and known to have cardiomyopathy.

As a secondary objective, the study will document the effect of a 12-week exercise intervention on exercise tolerance, as determined by measurement of peak VO2 and peak exercise workload, shortening fraction, ejection fraction, and left ventricular wall thickness, and assess the impact of the intervention on neurocognitive functioning in survivors of childhood cancer treated with anthracyclines and known to have cardiomyopathy.

Inclusion criteria

• Treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH)
• Ages 0 - 17 years at time of treatment
• Treated for any type of cancer
• ≥ 10 years from date of diagnosis
• ≥ 2 years after completion of active cancer therapy
• ≥ 18 years of age
• Treated with doxorubicin and/or daunorubicin (any cumulative dose)
• Ejection fraction of < 55% without medications
• Does not currently meet the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for exercise for adults

Exclusion criteria

• Ejection fraction ≤ 40%
• Pregnant females (Positive Urine pregnancy Test).
• History of congenital heart disease
• History of myocardial infarction
• History of acute coronary syndrome
• Individuals with pacemakers or implanted defibrillators
• History of radiation therapy that included any part of the heart
• ≥1-mm J-point depression (depression measured 80 msec after J-point) with ST segment flat or down-sloping in the majority of complexes in any ECG lead except AVR with exercise testing.
• All patients will be classified using the recommendations of the American Heart Association. Patients found to be in Class A, C or Class D will not be eligible for study