The Prospective Observational COMPRAYA Cohort Study

Overview

Rationale: Childhood cancer survivorship attracts attention globally, because successes in treatment have led to increasing number of survivors who reach adulthood, in which survivorship issues affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) become prominent. Most paediatric patients are treated intensively with irradiation and/or chemotherapy, which put them at risk for early and/or late adverse medical and psychosocial events. In contrast, much less is known about adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients, diagnosed between 18-39 years, who, with an 80% chance to survive, also have a long life ahead. AYA cancer patients, much more than children, suffer from delay in diagnosis, lack of centralization of care, ageadjusted expertise, and AYA follow-up care. AYAs typically present with a rare tumour: either with a paediatric malignancy (e.g. acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, paediatric brain tumours), a more typical tumour of AYA age (e.g. Hodgkin's disease, germ cell cancer, melanoma, thyroid cancer) or with an adult tumour at unusual young age (e.g. gastrointestinal, lung, breast carcinomas). Next to these differences in epidemiology, the tumour biology, developmental challenges (e.g. forming relationships, becoming financially independent, having children) and treatment regimens differ between AYAs and children, and therefore findings derived from childhood cancer survivors cannot be extrapolated to AYAs. Furthermore, novel treatments with targeted agents or immunotherapy are more likely to be administrated to AYAs compared to children. Finally, a rare group of incurable AYA cancer patients will survive for many years, for whom health outcome and supportive care intervention data are lacking. Globally, so far, the identification of AYA cancer patient subgroups that might be more susceptible to poor health outcomes has not been systematically addressed. The role of sociodemographic and treatment-associated risks, external exposures (e.g. lifestyle) and host factors (e.g. genetic, biological, physiological); or combinations of influences for impaired (agespecific) health outcomes, remains largely unknown. Understanding who is at risk and why will support the development of evidence-based AYA prevention, treatment and supportive care programs and guidelines, in co-creation with AYA cancer patients. Objective: To examine the prevalence, risk factors and mechanisms of impaired health outcomes (short- and long-term medical and psychosocial effects and late effects) over time among a population-based sample of AYA cancer patients. Study design: Prospective, observational cohort study Study population: All AYAs diagnosed (18-39 years at primary diagnosis) with cancer (any type) within the first 3 months after diagnosis (eligibility window of 1 month to ensure all eligible AYA cancer patients can be included) in one of the participating centres (or treated in one of these centres) in The Netherlands. Main study parameters/endpoints: The main outcomes are medical (e.g. second tumour; survival; fertility) and psychosocial (e.g. distress) health outcomes. Other study parameters (covariates/moderators/mediators) are characteristics of the individual (e.g. age, sex, cultural background, partner status, educational level, occupation, tumour type, disease stage, body composition, comorbid conditions, coping style), characteristics of the environment (e.g. cancer treatment, lifestyle), and genetic and biological factors (e.g. family history of cancer, stress and inflammation markers (e.g. cortisol, IL-6), microbiome). Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: On an individual level, patients who participate are asked to complete questionnaires on an annual basis for at least 10 years. All sample collections will take place at three time points: 0-3 months after diagnosis (baseline), 2 and 5 years; except blood for DNA analyses which will only take place at baseline. The collection of blood, hair and faeces at three occasions is minimally invasive and the risks of blood draws, hair and fecal sampling are negligible. All safety measures and procedures will be performed according to local guidelines. Patients will not experience direct benefit from participation in the COMPRAYA study. By participating, patients will contribute to a better insight in the prevalence of impaired medical and psychosocial (age-specific) health outcomes in AYA and evidence on factors associated with these health outcomes. This will lead to better and more personalized cancer care and supportive care tools for future AYA cancer patients.