Pediatric Hematologic MalignanciesCANUT JuniorNCT07632560
CANUT Junior : Assessment of Sensory Abilities and Eating Behavior in Pediatric Oncology: a Feasibility Study
A study testing tests in people with Pediatric Hematologic Malignancies and Pediatric Oncology, run by Centre Leon Berard at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
Cancer treatments in children are very intense and often cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and changes in taste and smell. These sensory alterations can impact eating habits, but they are still poorly understood in children. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 7 to 17 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Pediatric Hematologic Malignancies, Pediatric Oncology
- What is being tested?
- tests
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 13 Dec 2024to Jun 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 7 to 17 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Patients treated at a pediatric oncology-hematology center, with an initial diagnosis of a solid or hematological tumor, aged 7 to 17 years inclusive.
- Patients with functional oral feeding
- Parent/guardian who has signed the informed consent form and patient who has not expressed refusal
- Patients affiliated with the social security system
- French-speaking patients
- Validated indication for systematic oncological treatment
Who cannot join
- Individuals with a known food allergy/intolerance to the prototypes being studied (does not apply to patients on a protected diet)
- Individuals who have undergone surgery on the tongue
- Patients for whom other types of cancer treatment are planned during the study period (e.g., radiation therapy)
- Patients with dental conditions
- Patients who have relapsed
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Séverine Bouttefroy contact
France1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Institut d'Hématologie et d'Oncologie Pédiatrique
Lyon, 69008
Séverine Bouttefroy, +33469166589, severine.bouttefroy@ihope.fr
About this study
Cancer treatments in children are very intense and often cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and changes in taste and smell. These sensory alterations can impact eating habits, but they are still poorly understood in children. The study aims to assess whether it is feasible to measure these sensory changes (taste, smell, salivation, and food preferences) in children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment.
This study is a feasibility study with 30 patients aged 7 to 17 years, treated at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Institute (IHOPE) in Lyon. Sensory tests and questionnaires to evaluate the perceptions, oral health, eating habits, nutritional status, and quality of life are used.
Read more
The inclusion was initially planned at diagnosis, before any administration of chemotherapy. However, the study quickly encountered a recruitment problem due to the emotional impact and medical burden of this initial period of care (study offered to 11 families over a period of 5 months, 3 patients included). An amendment to the protocol was therefore made to be able to modify the inclusion period after the completion of chemotherapy. This modification was implemented on May 15, 2025, and allowed the inclusion of two new patients, making a total of 5 patients. Of these 5 patients, two completed all the tests during V0 and V1, two completed V0 but not V1, one did not complete any of the visits.
This feasibility phase will help determine whether the tools are suitable and well accepted. The results will be used to design a larger study aimed at better understanding how taste and smell alterations influence the eating behaviors of young patients during cancer treatment. Recruitment will continue for six more months in order to reach the target number of participants.
Read the detailed description
Today, the chances of survival among children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with cancer are 80%, particularly due to early diagnosis and access to appropriate care. Although multimodal care strategies have improved the survival rate in pediatric patients, highly toxic treatments cause various short- and long-term side effects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and alterations in taste perception. These side effects affect the comfort and quality of life of patients and expose them to a high risk of malnutrition. Sensory alterations related to smell, taste and texture reduce appetite and pleasure in eating, thus reducing food intake. More than 45% of children and adolescents treated for cancer suffer from malnutrition, which impacts their immune function, their response to treatments, their quality of life and even the costs of care. The consequences of sensory alterations on behaviors, preferences and eating habits are still little studied in children and adolescents treated for cancer. Similarly, olfactory and somesthetic capacities are very little explored in these patients. Only few studies are available in this area in pediatrics, and no studies take into account texture perception, which is essential for food acceptance.
This study is a feasibility study aimed at exploring the tools for measuring sensory alterations. It aims to evaluate taste and olfactory capacities, as well as food preferences in terms of textures among children. The study is a single-arm intervention. The study will include 30 patients between 7 and 17 years old, newly diagnosed with oncological or hematological malignancies, treated at IHOPE (Institute of Hematology and Pediatric Oncology) in Lyon, until today 3 patients have been included. The protocol had to undergo a second session in the Ethics County for changes to the recruitment process on May 7, 2025, with the aim of having more inclusions of participants. The change consists of doing the tests before the second chemotherapy cycle instead of the first cycle since patients have a lot of procedures to do in hospital management and they did not agree to participate in the study. The measures that are taken are, olfactory and gustatory capacities, measurement of salivary quantity and quality, preference and acceptance of textures. The state of oral health, dietary habits and food consumption with questionnaires are also assessed. Measurements of weight, height and BMI are taken, and nutritional status is assessed. The Easy Assessment Score of Ingesta is also used for an early diagnosis of the risk of malnutrition or undernutrition and finally the quality of life with the help of a questionnaire.
- Being tested
- tests
- Keywords
- taste alteration, sensory alteration, chemotherapy, pediatrics
- Medical subject headings
- Dysgeusia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
testsDiagnostic test
The measures that are taken are, olfactory and gustatory capacities, measurement of salivary quantity and quality, preference and acceptance of textures. We also assess the state of oral health, dietary habits and food consumption with questionnaires. Measurements of weight, height and BMI are taken, and nutritional status is assessed. The Easy Assessment Score of Ingesta is also used for an early diagnosis of the risk of malnutrition or undernutrition and finally the quality of life with the help of a questionnaire.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental arm | Experimental | The measures that are taken are, olfactory and gustatory capacities, measurement of salivary quantity and quality, preference and acceptance of textures. We also assess the state of oral health, dietary habits and food consumption with questionnaires. Measurements of weight, height and BMI are taken, and nutritional status is assessed. The Easy Assessment Score of Ingesta is also used for an early diagnosis of the risk of malnutrition or undernutrition and finally the quality of life with the help of a questionnaire. Receives: Diagnostic Test: tests |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
To determine the feasibility of testing olfactory, gustatory, and salivary function in children aged 7 to 17 years undergoing chemotherapy.
Completion rate: proportion of patients who complete all of the following tests in full at both measurement times.
The tests will be considered feasible if at least 60% of patients complete all of the tests
Measured: T0 : first day of the second cycle of chemotherapy; T1 : 1 month after T0
Secondary outcomes (1)
Correlation between impaired olfactory ability / impaired taste ability and: Sensitivity to texture /Texture preference / Food preferences and habits / Salivary function / Caloric intake / Nutritional status / Quality of life
evaluating the rate of patients presenting olfactory impairment (assessed by the Sniffin Sticks test) or taste impairment (assessed using taste strips) who are also presenting :
- taste impairment, using the Taste Alteration Scale for Children with Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy questionnaires and the Gustonco questionnaire.
- a modification of sensitivity to texture, measured on a 7-point smiley scale using food samples
- a modification of food texture preference assessed using a questionnaire based on pictographic drawings.
- a modification of food preferences and habits assessed using the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale
- a modification of salivary function measured using a Saliva-check BUFFER kit.
The daily calorie intake of every patient will be assessed using a 24-hour food diary, the nutritional status (weight in kg, height in cm, body mass index (BMI)and the quality of life will be assessed using the PedsQL questionnaire
Measured: T0 : first day of the second cycle of chemotherapy; T1 : 1 month after T0
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Jun 2026
- Study start13 Dec 2024
- Primary completion13 Dec 2024
- Study completionJun 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Pediatric Hematologic MalignanciesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Centre Leon BerardThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Centre Leon Berard
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Institut Lyfe
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Anestis Dougkas, Study director, Lyfe institute
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07632560
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ET23-394
- Acronym
- CANUT Junior
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 8 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- CANUT Junior : Assessment of Sensory Abilities and Eating Behavior in Pediatric Oncology: a Feasibility Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07632560
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CANUT Junior / ET23-394
- Keywords
- taste alteration, sensory alteration, chemotherapy, pediatrics
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Centre Leon BerardUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Institut Lyfe
- Study start
- 13 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 13 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jun 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Cancer treatments in children are very intense and often cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and changes in taste and smell. These sensory alterations can impact eating habits, but they are still poorly understood in children. The study aims to assess whether it is feasible to measure these sensory changes (taste, smell, salivation, and food preferences) in children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment.
This study is a feasibility study with 30 patients aged 7 to 17 years, treated at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Institute (IHOPE) in Lyon. Sensory tests and questionnaires to evaluate the perceptions, oral health, eating habits, nutritional status, and quality of life are used.
The inclusion was initially planned at diagnosis, before any administration of chemotherapy. However, the study quickly encountered a recruitment problem due to the emotional impact and medical burden of this initial period of care (study offered to 11 families over a period of 5 months, 3 patients included). An amendment to the protocol was therefore made to be able to modify the inclusion period after the completion of chemotherapy. This modification was implemented on May 15, 2025, and allowed the inclusion of two new patients, making a total of 5 patients. Of these 5 patients, two completed all the tests during V0 and V1, two completed V0 but not V1, one did not complete any of the visits.
This feasibility phase will help determine whether the tools are suitable and well accepted. The results will be used to design a larger study aimed at better understanding how taste and smell alterations influence the eating behaviors of young patients during cancer treatment. Recruitment will continue for six more months in order to reach the target number of participants.
Detailed description
Today, the chances of survival among children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with cancer are 80%, particularly due to early diagnosis and access to appropriate care. Although multimodal care strategies have improved the survival rate in pediatric patients, highly toxic treatments cause various short- and long-term side effects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and alterations in taste perception. These side effects affect the comfort and quality of life of patients and expose them to a high risk of malnutrition. Sensory alterations related to smell, taste and texture reduce appetite and pleasure in eating, thus reducing food intake. More than 45% of children and adolescents treated for cancer suffer from malnutrition, which impacts their immune function, their response to treatments, their quality of life and even the costs of care. The consequences of sensory alterations on behaviors, preferences and eating habits are still little studied in children and adolescents treated for cancer. Similarly, olfactory and somesthetic capacities are very little explored in these patients. Only few studies are available in this area in pediatrics, and no studies take into account texture perception, which is essential for food acceptance.
This study is a feasibility study aimed at exploring the tools for measuring sensory alterations. It aims to evaluate taste and olfactory capacities, as well as food preferences in terms of textures among children. The study is a single-arm intervention. The study will include 30 patients between 7 and 17 years old, newly diagnosed with oncological or hematological malignancies, treated at IHOPE (Institute of Hematology and Pediatric Oncology) in Lyon, until today 3 patients have been included. The protocol had to undergo a second session in the Ethics County for changes to the recruitment process on May 7, 2025, with the aim of having more inclusions of participants. The change consists of doing the tests before the second chemotherapy cycle instead of the first cycle since patients have a lot of procedures to do in hospital management and they did not agree to participate in the study. The measures that are taken are, olfactory and gustatory capacities, measurement of salivary quantity and quality, preference and acceptance of textures. The state of oral health, dietary habits and food consumption with questionnaires are also assessed. Measurements of weight, height and BMI are taken, and nutritional status is assessed. The Easy Assessment Score of Ingesta is also used for an early diagnosis of the risk of malnutrition or undernutrition and finally the quality of life with the help of a questionnaire.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental arm | Experimental | Diagnostic Test: testsThe measures that are taken are, olfactory and gustatory capacities, measurement of salivary quantity and quality, preference and acceptance of textures. We also assess the state of oral health, dietary habits and food consumption with questionnaires. Measurements of weight, height and BMI are taken, and nutritional status is assessed. The Easy Assessment Score of Ingesta is also used for an early diagnosis of the risk of malnutrition or undernutrition and finally the quality of life with the help of a questionnaire. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 7 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Patients treated at a pediatric oncology-hematology center, with an initial diagnosis of a solid or hematological tumor, aged 7 to 17 years inclusive.
- Patients with functional oral feeding
- Parent/guardian who has signed the informed consent form and patient who has not expressed refusal
- Patients affiliated with the social security system
- French-speaking patients
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Individuals with a known food allergy/intolerance to the prototypes being studied (does not apply to patients on a protected diet)
- Individuals who have undergone surgery on the tongue
- Patients for whom other types of cancer treatment are planned during the study period (e.g., radiation therapy)
- Patients with dental conditions
- Patients who have relapsed
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| testsThe measures that are taken are, olfactory and gustatory capacities, measurement of salivary quantity and quality, preference and acceptance of textures. We also assess the state of oral health, dietary habits and food consumption with questionnaires. Measurements of weight, height and BMI are taken, and nutritional status is assessed. The Easy Assessment Score of Ingesta is also used for an early diagnosis of the risk of malnutrition or undernutrition and finally the quality of life with the help of a questionnaire. | Diagnostic test | Experimental arm |
Primary outcome
To determine the feasibility of testing olfactory, gustatory, and salivary function in children aged 7 to 17 years undergoing chemotherapy.
Time frame: T0 : first day of the second cycle of chemotherapy; T1 : 1 month after T0
Completion rate: proportion of patients who complete all of the following tests in full at both measurement times. The tests will be considered feasible if at least 60% of patients complete all of the tests
1 secondary outcome
Correlation between impaired olfactory ability / impaired taste ability and: Sensitivity to texture /Texture preference / Food preferences and habits / Salivary function / Caloric intake / Nutritional status / Quality of life
Time frame: T0 : first day of the second cycle of chemotherapy; T1 : 1 month after T0
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Séverine Bouttefroy contact
Anestis Dougkas study director
Lyfe institute
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing tests in people with Pediatric Hematologic Malignancies and Pediatric Oncology, run by Centre Leon Berard at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Samia Saraya (+33767889375, ssaraya-jean@institutlyfe.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
To determine the feasibility of testing olfactory, gustatory, and salivary function in children aged 7 to 17 years undergoing chemotherapy. (time frame: T0 : first day of the second cycle of chemotherapy; T1 : 1 month after T0). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Jun 2026.