Objetivos: Descrever o perfil e as complicações agudas mais importantes das crianças que receberam transplante de medula óssea (TMO) em nosso Serviço. Casuística e métodos: Análise retrospectiva de 41 pacientes menores de 21 anos transplantados entre Agosto de 1997 até Junho de 2002. Deste total 20 receberam transplante alogênico e 21 receberam transplante autogênico. Resultados: No TMO alogênico a média de idade foi de 8,9 + 5,4 anos, sendo 12 pacientes do sexo masculino. As fontes de células foram: medula óssea (MO) 12, sangue periférico (SP) 5, sangue de cordão umbilical não aparentado (SCU) 3. As doenças tratadas foram leucemia linfóide aguda (LLA) 7 pacientes, leucemia linfóide crônica (LMC) 2; leucemia mielóide aguda (LMA) 4; Síndrome mielodisplásica 2; Linfoma de Burkitt 1, Anemia aplástica grave 1; Anemia de Fanconi 1; Síndrome Chediak Higashi 1; Imunodeficiência congênita combinada grave 1. Um paciente desenvolveu doença do enxerto contra hospedeiro (DECH) aguda grau 2 e três DECH grau 4. Três pacientes desenvolveram DECH crônica. Todos haviam recebido SP como fonte de células. A sobrevida global foi de 70,0 + 10,3%. A principal causa do óbito foi DECH em 3 pacientes e sépse em outros 3. Todos os óbitos ocorreram antes do dia 100. Um dos pacientes que recebeu SCU está vivo em bom estado e sem uso de medicações 3 anos e 6 meses pós TMO. No TMO autogênico, a média de idade foi de 8,7 + 4,3 anos, sendo 11 pacientes do sexo masculino. As fontes de células foram SP 16, MO 3, SP + MO 2. As doenças tratadas foram: tumor de Wilms 5; tumores da família do sarcoma de Ewing 4; neuroblastomas 3; linfomas de Hodgkin 3; rabdomiossarcomas 2, tumor neuroectodérmico primitivo do SNC 2; Linfoma não Hodgkin 1; LMA 1. A sobrevida global está em 59,4 + 11,7 %. Cinco óbitos tiveram como causa a progressão da doença de base, um óbito ocorreu devido à infecção 20 meses pós TMO e dois óbitos foram precoces por sépse. As toxicidades mais comuns em ambos os grupos foram vômitos, mucosite, diarréia e dor abdominal. Infecções foram documentadas em 58,5% dos pacientes e 46,9% tiveram no mínimo um agente isolado na hemocultura. Os tempos de enxertia de neutrófilos e plaquetas correlacionaram-se com o número de células progenitoras infundidas. Conclusão: A sobrevida de nossos pacientes é semelhante à encontrada na literatura de outros serviços nacionais e internacionais. Não encontramos diferença entre os dois tipos de transplante com relação às toxicidades agudas e ás infecções. / Objectives: To describe the demografics and the most important acute clinical complications of the patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) at our Service. Material and methods: A Retrospective analysis was performed including 41 patients treated between August 1997 and June 2002. Twenty patients had a allogeneic BMT and 21 autologous BMT. Results: Regarding allogeneic BMT the mean age was 8.9 + 5.4 years. Twelve patients were male. The stem cells sources were: bone marrow (BM) 12, peripheral blood (PB) 5, unrelated cord blood (UCB) 3. The diseases were acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) in 7 patients, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 4, Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) 2, myelodysplastic syndrome 2, Burkitt’s lymphoma 1, severe combined immunodeficiency 1, Chediaki Higashi 1, Fanconi anemia 1, aplastic anemia 1. One patient developed grade 2 acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) and 3 had grade 4. Three patients developed chronic GVHD. All of them received PB as cell source. The overall survival was 70.0 + 10.3%. The main cause of death was GVHD in 3 patients and sepsis in the 3 other ones. All deaths occurred before day 100. One of the patients who received UCB is alive 3.5 years after the transplantation. Regarding autologous BMT, the mean age was 8,7 + 4,3 years. Eleven patients were male. The stem cell sources were: PB 16, BM 3, PB + BM 2. The diseases were: Wilms tumor 5, Ewing’s sarcoma family tumors 4, neuroblastoma 3, Hodgkin’s disease 3, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma 1, rhabdomiossarcoma 2, Neuroectodermic tumor of the central nervous system 2, AML 1. The overall survival was 59.4 + 11.7%. Five patients died due to tumor relapse, 2 patients due to sepsis and one patient died in remission 20 months after BMT due to infection. In the whole group the most common toxicities were vomiting, mucositis, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Infections were documented in 58.5% of the patients and 46.9% had at least one agent isolated in the blood culture. The time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment were correlated to the number of hematopoietic stem cell infused. Conclusion: The overall survival in our patients is similar to the reported on the literature. We did not find differences between autologous and allogeneic BMT, regarding acute toxicities and infections.

Objetivos: Descrever o perfil e as complicações agudas mais importantes das crianças que receberam transplante de medula óssea (TMO) em nosso Serviço. Casuística e métodos: Análise retrospectiva de 41 pacientes menores de 21 anos transplantados entre Agosto de 1997 até Junho de 2002. Deste total 20 receberam transplante alogênico e 21 receberam transplante autogênico. Resultados: No TMO alogênico a média de idade foi de 8,9 + 5,4 anos, sendo 12 pacientes do sexo masculino. As fontes de células foram: medula óssea (MO) 12, sangue periférico (SP) 5, sangue de cordão umbilical não aparentado (SCU) 3. As doenças tratadas foram leucemia linfóide aguda (LLA) 7 pacientes, leucemia linfóide crônica (LMC) 2; leucemia mielóide aguda (LMA) 4; Síndrome mielodisplásica 2; Linfoma de Burkitt 1, Anemia aplástica grave 1; Anemia de Fanconi 1; Síndrome Chediak Higashi 1; Imunodeficiência congênita combinada grave 1. Um paciente desenvolveu doença do enxerto contra hospedeiro (DECH) aguda grau 2 e três DECH grau 4. Três pacientes desenvolveram DECH crônica. Todos haviam recebido SP como fonte de células. A sobrevida global foi de 70,0 + 10,3%. A principal causa do óbito foi DECH em 3 pacientes e sépse em outros 3. Todos os óbitos ocorreram antes do dia 100. Um dos pacientes que recebeu SCU está vivo em bom estado e sem uso de medicações 3 anos e 6 meses pós TMO. No TMO autogênico, a média de idade foi de 8,7 + 4,3 anos, sendo 11 pacientes do sexo masculino. As fontes de células foram SP 16, MO 3, SP + MO 2. As doenças tratadas foram: tumor de Wilms 5; tumores da família do sarcoma de Ewing 4; neuroblastomas 3; linfomas de Hodgkin 3; rabdomiossarcomas 2, tumor neuroectodérmico primitivo do SNC 2; Linfoma não Hodgkin 1; LMA 1. A sobrevida global está em 59,4 + 11,7 %. Cinco óbitos tiveram como causa a progressão da doença de base, um óbito ocorreu devido à infecção 20 meses pós TMO e dois óbitos foram precoces por sépse. As toxicidades mais comuns em ambos os grupos foram vômitos, mucosite, diarréia e dor abdominal. Infecções foram documentadas em 58,5% dos pacientes e 46,9% tiveram no mínimo um agente isolado na hemocultura. Os tempos de enxertia de neutrófilos e plaquetas correlacionaram-se com o número de células progenitoras infundidas. Conclusão: A sobrevida de nossos pacientes é semelhante à encontrada na literatura de outros serviços nacionais e internacionais. Não encontramos diferença entre os dois tipos de transplante com relação às toxicidades agudas e ás infecções. / Objectives: To describe the demografics and the most important acute clinical complications of the patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) at our Service. Material and methods: A Retrospective analysis was performed including 41 patients treated between August 1997 and June 2002. Twenty patients had a allogeneic BMT and 21 autologous BMT. Results: Regarding allogeneic BMT the mean age was 8.9 + 5.4 years. Twelve patients were male. The stem cells sources were: bone marrow (BM) 12, peripheral blood (PB) 5, unrelated cord blood (UCB) 3. The diseases were acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) in 7 patients, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 4, Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) 2, myelodysplastic syndrome 2, Burkitt’s lymphoma 1, severe combined immunodeficiency 1, Chediaki Higashi 1, Fanconi anemia 1, aplastic anemia 1. One patient developed grade 2 acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) and 3 had grade 4. Three patients developed chronic GVHD. All of them received PB as cell source. The overall survival was 70.0 + 10.3%. The main cause of death was GVHD in 3 patients and sepsis in the 3 other ones. All deaths occurred before day 100. One of the patients who received UCB is alive 3.5 years after the transplantation. Regarding autologous BMT, the mean age was 8,7 + 4,3 years. Eleven patients were male. The stem cell sources were: PB 16, BM 3, PB + BM 2. The diseases were: Wilms tumor 5, Ewing’s sarcoma family tumors 4, neuroblastoma 3, Hodgkin’s disease 3, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma 1, rhabdomiossarcoma 2, Neuroectodermic tumor of the central nervous system 2, AML 1. The overall survival was 59.4 + 11.7%. Five patients died due to tumor relapse, 2 patients due to sepsis and one patient died in remission 20 months after BMT due to infection. In the whole group the most common toxicities were vomiting, mucositis, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Infections were documented in 58.5% of the patients and 46.9% had at least one agent isolated in the blood culture. The time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment were correlated to the number of hematopoietic stem cell infused. Conclusion: The overall survival in our patients is similar to the reported on the literature. We did not find differences between autologous and allogeneic BMT, regarding acute toxicities and infections.

Objetivos: Descrever o perfil e as complicações agudas mais importantes das crianças que receberam transplante de medula óssea (TMO) em nosso Serviço. Casuística e métodos: Análise retrospectiva de 41 pacientes menores de 21 anos transplantados entre Agosto de 1997 até Junho de 2002. Deste total 20 receberam transplante alogênico e 21 receberam transplante autogênico. Resultados: No TMO alogênico a média de idade foi de 8,9 + 5,4 anos, sendo 12 pacientes do sexo masculino. As fontes de células foram: medula óssea (MO) 12, sangue periférico (SP) 5, sangue de cordão umbilical não aparentado (SCU) 3. As doenças tratadas foram leucemia linfóide aguda (LLA) 7 pacientes, leucemia linfóide crônica (LMC) 2; leucemia mielóide aguda (LMA) 4; Síndrome mielodisplásica 2; Linfoma de Burkitt 1, Anemia aplástica grave 1; Anemia de Fanconi 1; Síndrome Chediak Higashi 1; Imunodeficiência congênita combinada grave 1. Um paciente desenvolveu doença do enxerto contra hospedeiro (DECH) aguda grau 2 e três DECH grau 4. Três pacientes desenvolveram DECH crônica. Todos haviam recebido SP como fonte de células. A sobrevida global foi de 70,0 + 10,3%. A principal causa do óbito foi DECH em 3 pacientes e sépse em outros 3. Todos os óbitos ocorreram antes do dia 100. Um dos pacientes que recebeu SCU está vivo em bom estado e sem uso de medicações 3 anos e 6 meses pós TMO. No TMO autogênico, a média de idade foi de 8,7 + 4,3 anos, sendo 11 pacientes do sexo masculino. As fontes de células foram SP 16, MO 3, SP + MO 2. As doenças tratadas foram: tumor de Wilms 5; tumores da família do sarcoma de Ewing 4; neuroblastomas 3; linfomas de Hodgkin 3; rabdomiossarcomas 2, tumor neuroectodérmico primitivo do SNC 2; Linfoma não Hodgkin 1; LMA 1. A sobrevida global está em 59,4 + 11,7 %. Cinco óbitos tiveram como causa a progressão da doença de base, um óbito ocorreu devido à infecção 20 meses pós TMO e dois óbitos foram precoces por sépse. As toxicidades mais comuns em ambos os grupos foram vômitos, mucosite, diarréia e dor abdominal. Infecções foram documentadas em 58,5% dos pacientes e 46,9% tiveram no mínimo um agente isolado na hemocultura. Os tempos de enxertia de neutrófilos e plaquetas correlacionaram-se com o número de células progenitoras infundidas. Conclusão: A sobrevida de nossos pacientes é semelhante à encontrada na literatura de outros serviços nacionais e internacionais. Não encontramos diferença entre os dois tipos de transplante com relação às toxicidades agudas e ás infecções. / Objectives: To describe the demografics and the most important acute clinical complications of the patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) at our Service. Material and methods: A Retrospective analysis was performed including 41 patients treated between August 1997 and June 2002. Twenty patients had a allogeneic BMT and 21 autologous BMT. Results: Regarding allogeneic BMT the mean age was 8.9 + 5.4 years. Twelve patients were male. The stem cells sources were: bone marrow (BM) 12, peripheral blood (PB) 5, unrelated cord blood (UCB) 3. The diseases were acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) in 7 patients, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 4, Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) 2, myelodysplastic syndrome 2, Burkitt’s lymphoma 1, severe combined immunodeficiency 1, Chediaki Higashi 1, Fanconi anemia 1, aplastic anemia 1. One patient developed grade 2 acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) and 3 had grade 4. Three patients developed chronic GVHD. All of them received PB as cell source. The overall survival was 70.0 + 10.3%. The main cause of death was GVHD in 3 patients and sepsis in the 3 other ones. All deaths occurred before day 100. One of the patients who received UCB is alive 3.5 years after the transplantation. Regarding autologous BMT, the mean age was 8,7 + 4,3 years. Eleven patients were male. The stem cell sources were: PB 16, BM 3, PB + BM 2. The diseases were: Wilms tumor 5, Ewing’s sarcoma family tumors 4, neuroblastoma 3, Hodgkin’s disease 3, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma 1, rhabdomiossarcoma 2, Neuroectodermic tumor of the central nervous system 2, AML 1. The overall survival was 59.4 + 11.7%. Five patients died due to tumor relapse, 2 patients due to sepsis and one patient died in remission 20 months after BMT due to infection. In the whole group the most common toxicities were vomiting, mucositis, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Infections were documented in 58.5% of the patients and 46.9% had at least one agent isolated in the blood culture. The time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment were correlated to the number of hematopoietic stem cell infused. Conclusion: The overall survival in our patients is similar to the reported on the literature. We did not find differences between autologous and allogeneic BMT, regarding acute toxicities and infections.

Objectifs : Pour les parents, vivre le deuil d'un enfant atteint d'un cancer est un cheminement complexe et douloureux dont il est difficile de comprendre tous les enjeux, en particulier ce qui influence la santé psychologique et la qualité de vie à long terme. Les objectifs étaient 1/ de décrire la qualité de vie, la détresse psychologique et les symptômes de deuil de parents endeuillés, 2/ d'explorer l’influence du sexe et du temps écoulé depuis le décès sur les résultats aux tests de santé psychologique, et 3/ d’identifier des prédicteurs de la santé psychologique actuelle des parents. Méthode : Une analyse quantitative rétrospective a été effectuée auprès de 32 mères et 14 pères d'enfants décédés du cancer au CHU Sainte-Justine. Ceux-ci ont rempli un questionnaire en ligne comportant le Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-12), le Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) et l’Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG-19). Résultats : Les symptômes de deuil des parents demeurent très présents, jusqu'à 18 ans après le décès. La majorité (58 %) des parents rapportent un deuil compliqué rétrospectivement. La plupart des mères rapportent des symptômes de deuil importants, ainsi qu’un changement significatif entre la première année après le décès et maintenant comparativement aux pères. Enfin, les prédicteurs de la qualité de vie et de la détresse psychologique nous renseignent sur des modèles de vulnérabilité de la santé psychologique des parents, tel qu’être père, avoir des symptômes élevés de deuil et peu de temps écoulé entre le décès et la complétion du questionnaire. Conclusion : Cette étude permet de nous informer sur les effets du deuil. Les résultats suggèrent qu'un suivi des parents endeuillés est nécessaire, même longtemps après le décès de leur enfant. / Objectives: For parents, grieving the loss of a child from cancer is a complex and painful journey for which we do not understand all the issues, in particular, what influences psychological health and long-term quality of life and more specifically the situation of fathers. This study was conducted with parents two to twenty years after the death of their child. The objectives are 1/ to describe the quality of life, psychological distress, and bereavement symptoms of bereaved parents, 2/ to explore the influence of gender and time since death on psychological health test results, and 3/ to identify predictors of parents' current psychological health. Methods: A retrospective quantitative analysis carried out was conducted with 32 mothers and 14 fathers of children who died of cancer at Sainte-Justine UHC between 2000 and 2016 were recruited and completed a self-reported online questionnaire using Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-12), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) and Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG-19). Results: Parents’ symptoms of grief continue to be very present, even up to 18 years after death (58%). Mostly mothers recall very significant symptoms of grief. They report a significant change between the first year after death and now which is less true for fathers. Finally, the predictors of Quality of Life and distress provide us with information on vulnerability patterns: being a father, having high symptoms of grief, and short time elapsed since death. Conclusion: Understanding the differences between fathers’ and mothers’ grief is important for health professionals to better support both bereaved parents efficiently. The results suggest that a follow-up of bereaved parents is needed, even long after the death of their child.

Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, emerging from cells of the neural crest. In Sweden, neuroblastoma accounts for 20 cases out of all, 300-350, pediatric cancer cases each year (Barncancerfonden 2019, Turup on behalf of Cancer Centrum 2019). This cancer often appears in the sympathetic ganglia and/or the adrenal gland and has a high rate of metastasis that often results in morbidity (Matthay et al. 2016). Recent findings implicating a mutation in the Rho/Rac signaling pathway, a pathway involved in neural crest differentiation and migration, were found in every fourth neuroblastoma patient (Dyberg et al. 2017) These mutations tend to shift Rho to a more active state which is believed to lead to more downstream Rho-associated Kinase (ROCK) activation. While inhibition of ROCK has been seen to promote MYCN protein degradation, induce neuroblastoma cell differentiation and repress neuroblastoma growth in vitro and in vivo (Dyberg et al. 2017). Rho/ROCK signaling pathway effects on cytoskeletal arrangement and cell shape have also been suggested to be involved in tumor promoted changes of the TME (Johan and Samuel, 2018). In this master’s thesis project, we explore the effects of the Rho/ROCK pathway on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune response (IR) in neuroblastoma. More specifically we are focusing on populations of T cells, macrophages and fibroblasts in tumors, and looking into tumor vascular structure (such as blood vessel) and extracellular matrix (ECM) formation after ROCK inhibitor treatment within neuroblastoma tumors from transgenic mice model TH-MYCN and multi-cellular tumor spheroids (MCTS), a three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model simulating TME in neuroblastoma cell lines. Through our studies we hope to find insights into the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway and involvement of the tumor microenvironment in cancer therapy, while elucidating potential new drugs and drug targets for improving outcomes in neuroblastoma treatment.

Introduction : Le Test de Marche de 6 Minutes (6MWT) est le test le plus utilisé chez les patients atteints de cancer, évaluant la capacité fonctionnelle, tout en demeurant simple, sécuritaire et standardisé. Toutefois, aucune équation actuelle ne peut prédire la consommation maximale d’oxygène ("V" ̇O2 max) chez les survivants de cancer. Ainsi, l’objectif principal est de valider une équation spécifique pour prédire le "V" ̇O2 max à partir du 6MWT, alors que le second est de valider une équation spécifique pour prédire la distance de marche (6MWD) à partir du 6MWT. Méthodes : Au total, 250 survivants d’au moins cinq ans de la leucémie lymphoblastique aigüe (LLA) (n=80 femmes (48%); n=88 hommes (52%)) avec un âge moyen de 22 ans (22.2 ± 6.3) ont été recrutés. Parmi ceux-ci, 168 survivants ont réalisé un 6MWT ainsi qu’un test d’effort maximal sur ergocycle pour évaluer respectivement leur capacité fonctionnelle et leur fonction cardiorespiratoire. Une évaluation de leur pratique d’activités physiques a été réalisée par questionnaire. Les survivants ont ensuite été randomisés en deux groupes : le premier (n=118 (70%)) pour créer les équations et le deuxième groupe (n=50 (30%)) pour valider les équations créées. Des régressions linéaires multiples ont été réalisées pour prédire chacune des équations ("V" ̇O2 max et 6MWD) à partir du 6MWT. Les variables incluses dans les équations comprenaient l’âge, le poids, la taille, la fréquence cardiaque à la fin du test (FCfin), la distance de marche effectuée (6MWD), le niveau de la pratique d’activités physiques (MVLPA), la perception d’effort (EPE) ainsi que la durée des traitements (DT). La méthode de Bland et Altman a été utilisée pour valider chacune des équations en déterminant les différences moyennes et en comparant nos équations avec des équations de références. Résultats : Équation spécifique "V" ̇O2 max (différence moyenne = 2.51mL.kg-1.min-1) = (-0,236 * âge(années)) - (0,094 * poids(kg)) - (0,120 * FCfin(bpm)) + (0,067 * 6MWD(mètres)) + (0,065 * MVLPA(min/jour)) - (0,204 * DT(années)) + 25,145 ; R2=0.61. Équation spécifique 6MWD (différence moyenne = 10.86 mètres) = (3,948 * taille(cm)) - (1,223 * poids(kg)) + (1,913 * FCfin(bpm)) - (6,863 * EPE(/10)) + (0,556 * MVLPA(min/jour)) - 242,241 ; R2=0.36. Conclusion : Il s’agit de la première étude qui prédit le "V" ̇O2 max et la 6MWD en utilisant des variables cliniques et spécifiques des survivants de LLA. Nos résultats permettent d’évaluer la capacité cardiorespiratoire des survivants de LLA et facilitera leur suivi. / Introduction: In cancer patients, the 6-Minute Walking Test (6MWT) is the most widely used test because it can assess the functional capacity in patients, while remaining simple, safe and standardized. However, it is reported that the actual equations cannot accurately predict a valid "V" ̇O2 peak value or a 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) in cancer survivors. Thus, the first aim is to validate a specific equation using the 6MWT to predict "V" ̇O2peak, while the second is to validate a specific equation to predict walk distance during 6MWT. Methods: A total of 250 childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors were enrolled in this study, among which 168 participants aged 22 years on average (22.2 ± 6.3) (n=80 females (48%); n=88 males (52%)) underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and a 6MWT to assess their functional capacity and their cardiorespiratory fitness. Additionally, participants completed a physical activity questionnaire. Participants were randomly divided in two groups to create (n=118 (70%)) and to validate (n=50 (30%)) the equations. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine a new prediction equation for "V" ̇O2 peak and 6MWD from 6MWT. The validity in between the measured and predicted "V" ̇O2 peak and between the measured and predicted 6MWD was assessed using the Bland and Altman method. Results: Specific "V" ̇O2 peak equation (mean of bias=2.51mL.kg-1.min-1) = (-0.236*age(years)) - (0.094*weight(kg)) - (0.120*HR end(bpm)) + (0.067*6MWD(meters)) + (0.065*MVLPA(min/day)) - (0.204*DT(years)) + 25.145. Specific 6MWD equation (mean of bias=10.86meters) = (3.948*height(cm)) - (1.223*weight(kg)) + (1.913*HR end(bpm)) - (6.863*RPE) + (0.556*MVLPA(min/day)) - 242.241 Conclusion: This is the first study that predicted "V" ̇O2 peak and 6MWD using clinical and specific variables related to the disease from a 6MWT in childhood ALL survivors. It refines an already available tool that will strengthen an objective evaluation of the patient.

Grâce aux progrès médicaux, le taux de survie à 5 ans des enfants et des adolescents diagnostiqués d’un cancer est maintenant d’environ 85%. Malgré ces chiffres encourageants, à l’âge adulte, les survivants d’un cancer pédiatrique sont à risque de développer plusieurs problèmes de santé dont des maladies cardiovasculaires et des complications cardiométaboliques (CM) comme de l'hypertension, une résistance à l'insuline, de la dyslipidémie et de l'obésité abdominale. Devant cette réalité, il importe d’enrichir les connaissances quant à l’évolution et l’étiologie de ces séquelles tôt dans la trajectoire du cancer et de la survivance afin d’améliorer la prise en charge précoce des patients. Pourtant, à ce jour, seulement quelques études ont décrit la santé CM de patients à court terme après la fin des traitements et les facteurs associés au développement hâtif de ces complications demeurent méconnus. Le cancer et ses traitements causent un état pro-inflammatoire & pro-oxydant susceptible d’entraîner le développement de complications CM. En parallèle, la période de traitement est caractérisée par des changements dans les habitudes alimentaires, un comportement sédentaire et une augmentation de l’indice de masse corporelle (IMC), qui peuvent persister après la fin des traitements. À long terme chez les survivants de cancers pédiatriques, le statut d’obésité à la fin des traitements ainsi que certains biomarqueurs inflammatoires ont été associés à la présence de complications CM. De plus, la composition des HDL est différente à long terme chez les survivants de la leucémie lymphoblastique aiguë comparativement à celle de contrôles sains. Étant donné l’importance de tous ces facteurs, il est primordial de les décrire à court terme, après la fin des traitements. Par ailleurs, l’obésité au moment du diagnostic et l’augmentation de l’IMC pendant le traitement influencent négativement le pronostic et l’occurrence d’effets secondaires graves durant les traitements. Toutefois, la plupart des interventions nutritionnelles en oncologie pédiatrique ne tiennent pas en compte la problématique du gain de poids significatif durant les traitements. Ainsi, il semble important d’évaluer la possibilité d’implanter des stratégies misant sur la promotion d'habitudes de vie saines tôt après le diagnostic d’un cancer pédiatrique afin d’améliorer l'état nutritionnel, la qualité de vie et possiblement la santé CM des patients à court et à long terme. Les travaux de cette thèse ont pour but de : i) décrire la santé CM de patients en oncologie pédiatrique peu de temps après les traitements, ii) élaborer, par une revue de littérature, sur le rôle de l’état inflammatoire et oxydant relié au cancer de l’enfant et ses traitements dans le développement des complications CM, iii) évaluer les associations entre l’évolution de l’IMC durant la trajectoire de soins d’un cancer pédiatrique et les complications CM ainsi que le statut inflammatoire; vi) détailler la composition lipidique et protéique des HDL des patients peu de temps après la fin des traitements du cancer pédiatrique et; v) déterminer la faisabilité d’une intervention nutritionnelle précoce chez des enfants et des adolescents nouvellement diagnostiqués d’un cancer. Pour ce faire, deux cohortes de patients ont été recrutées dans le cadre de l’étude VIE (Valorisation, Implication, Éducation) au CHU Sainte-Justine. D’abord, 80 patients suivis en hémato-oncologie ont été rencontrés en moyenne 1,4 ± 0,8 an après la fin de leur traitement contre un cancer pédiatrique. De ce groupe, 56,3 % étaient des filles, 43,8% avaient été traités pour une leucémie. L'âge moyen lors de la rencontre était de 11,8 ans (min - max: 4,5 - 21,0). La proportion de complications CM observée était de 26,3 % pour la pression artérielle (PA) élevée, 8,1 % pour le prédiabète, 35,0 % pour la dyslipidémie et 11,5 % pour l’obésité. Les adolescents (≥ 10 ans au diagnostic) étaient plus susceptibles d'avoir une PA élevée, une dyslipidémie et de cumuler ≥ 2 complications CM que les enfants. Être en surpoids ou obèse après le traitement était associé à des niveaux plus élevés d'insuline, d’HOMA-IR, de leptine et du ratio leptine/adiponectine du plasma. Chez les patients en surpoids ou obèses à la fin du traitement, le changement de l’IMC a été relié au niveau d’adipokines (leptine et ratio leptine/adiponectine) après les traitements. De plus, les fractions de HDL3 étaient enrichies en triglycérides chez les patients présentant une dyslipidémie à l’évaluation par rapport aux normolipidiques et chez ceux ayant été traités avec des doses de doxorubicine ≥ 90 mg/m2 par rapport à des doses inférieures. Parallèlement, une intervention nutritionnelle d'un an, comprenant une évaluation initiale et six visites de suivi tous les deux mois, a été effectuée auprès de 61 participants. De ceux-ci, 51,6% étaient des garçons, l’âge moyen était de 8,5 ans et le temps moyen entre le début de l’intervention et le diagnostic était de 13,2 semaines. Après 1 an d’intervention, le taux de rétention étaient de 72,6 %, 258 rencontres ont été menées sur 362 planifiées (taux de présence 71,6%) et la moitié des participants (50,8 %) avaient participé à au moins 4 rencontres de suivi. En conclusion, peu après le traitement d’un cancer pédiatrique, la santé CM est influencée par l’âge au diagnostic et l’évolution de l’IMC pendant les traitements, et le métabolisme des HDL tant par l’âge que les doses de doxorubicine reçues. Les biomarqueurs du statut inflammatoire peuvent servir d’indicateur de la santé CM chez ces patients. Par ailleurs, l’implantation d’une intervention nutritionnelle impliquant les patients et leurs parents tôt après le diagnostic d’un cancer pédiatrique est faisable et constitue une stratégie à prioriser afin d’optimiser la santé CM de cette population à court et à long terme. Dans leur ensemble, nos travaux contribuent à améliorer la prise en charge et les méthodes d’interventions auprès des enfants et des adolescents diagnostiqués d’un cancer. / Due to medical advances, the 5-year survival rate for children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer is now approximately 85%. Despite these encouraging statistics, in adulthood, survivors of pediatric cancer are at risk of developing several health problems including cardiovascular disease and cardiometabolic complications (CM) such as hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and abdominal obesity. In this context, it is important to increase the knowledge of the evolution and etiology of these sequelae to improve early management. However, to date, only a few studies have described the CM health of patients in the short term after the end of treatment and the factors associated with the early development of these complications remain unknown. Cancer and its treatment cause a pro-inflammatory & pro-oxidative state that can lead to the development of CM complications. In parallel, the treatment period is characterized by changes in dietary habits, sedentary behavior, and increased body mass index (BMI), which may persist after treatment ends. In the long term in pediatric cancer survivors, obesity status at the end of treatment and some inflammatory biomarkers have been associated with the presence of CM complications. In addition, HDL composition is different in long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia compared with healthy controls. Given the importance of these factors, it is critical to describe them in the short term, after the end of treatment. In addition, obesity at diagnosis and increasing BMI during treatment negatively influence prognosis and the occurrence of serious side effects during treatment. However, most nutritional interventions in pediatric oncology do not address the issue of significant weight gain during treatment. Thus, it seems important to evaluate the possibility of implementing strategies focusing on the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits early after the diagnosis of pediatric cancer in order to improve the nutritional status, quality of life and possibly the CM health of patients in the short and long term. The work in this thesis aims to: i) describe the CM health of pediatric oncology patients shortly after treatment, ii) elaborate, through a literature review, on the role of inflammatory and oxidative status related to pediatric cancer and its treatments in the development of CM complications, iii) evaluate the associations between changes in BMI during the pediatric cancer care trajectory and CM complications as well as inflammatory status; vi) detail the lipid and protein composition of patients' HDL shortly after completion of pediatric cancer treatments and; v) determine the feasibility of early nutritional intervention in children and adolescents newly diagnosed with cancer. Two cohorts of patients were recruited as part of the VIE (Valorisation, Implication, Education) study at CHU Sainte-Justine. First, 80 patients followed in hemato-oncology were met on average 1.4 ± 0.8 year after the end of their treatment for pediatric cancer. Of this group, 56.3% were girls, 43.8% had been treated for leukemia. The mean age at encounter was 11.8 years (min - max: 4.5 - 21.0). The proportion of CM complications observed was 26.3% for high blood pressure (BP), 8.1% for prediabetes, 35.0% for dyslipidemia, and 11.5% for obesity. Adolescents (≥ 10 years of age at diagnosis) were more likely to have elevated BP, dyslipidemia, and ≥ 2 CM complications than children. Being overweight or obese after treatment was associated with higher levels of insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, and plasma leptin/adiponectin ratio. In patients who were overweight or obese at the end of treatment, the change in BMI was related to the level of adipokines (leptin and leptin/adiponectin ratio) after treatments. In addition, HDL3 fractions were enriched in triglycerides in patients who were dyslipidemic at assessment compared with the normolipidics, and in those who had been treated with doxorubicin doses ≥90 mg/m2 compared to lower doses. In parallel, a one-year nutrition intervention, including an initial assessment and six follow-up visits every two months, was conducted with 61 participants. Of these, 51.6% were boys, the mean age was 8.5 years, and the mean time from intervention initiation to diagnosis was 13.2 weeks. After 1 year of intervention, the retention rate was 72.6%, 258 visits were held out of the 362 planned (71.6% attendance rate) and half of the participants (50.8%) had attended at least 4 follow-up visits. In conclusion, shortly after treatment of pediatric cancer, CM health is influenced by age at diagnosis and BMI changes during treatment, and HDL metabolism by both age and doses of doxorubicin received. Biomarkers of inflammatory status may serve as an indicator of CM health in these patients. Furthermore, implementation of a nutritional intervention involving patients and parents early after diagnosis of pediatric cancer is feasible and is a strategy to prioritize to optimize CM health in this population in the short and long term. Taken together, our work contributes to improve the management and intervention methods for children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer.

Le médulloblastome est une des tumeurs les plus fréquentes du système nerveux central chez l’enfant. Son impact clinique, ainsi que les effets secondaires engendrés par les traitements actuels, sont significatifs en matière de morbidité et de mortalité. La caractérisation moléculaire des tumeurs du système nerveux central a grandement évolué, et ce, particulièrement en ce qui concerne le médulloblastome. Des travaux antérieurs ont permis d’établir qu’un des sous-groupes de médulloblastome est caractérisé par l’activation de la voie sonic hedgehog. La mutation la plus fréquente menant à ce sous-type de médulloblastome est la mutation du gène suppresseur de tumeur PTCH1. Grâce au modèle de souris Ptch1+/-, des données issues de notre laboratoire ont permis de caractériser le développement de cette tumeur comme étant en deux étapes. Ce travail porte sur la caractérisation du mécanisme par lequel cette première étape, soit la perte d’hétérozygotie de Ptch1, survient. Tout d’abord, nous revisitons le rôle in vivo du corécepteur Boc dans la tumorigenèse. Selon nos résultats, la modulation de Boc ne semble pas avoir un impact significatif sur le développement tumoral dans des expériences de transplantation orthotopiques. Ensuite, nous démontrons que le ligand Shh augmente le dommage à l’ADN, ce qui mène à une hausse des évènements de recombinaisons qui peuvent causer une perte d’hétérozygotie. Nous tentons de moduler l’activité de Rad51 en observant une tendance non statistiquement significative des évènements de recombinaison avec des inhibiteurs de Rad51. Nous démontrons ensuite qu’un inhibiteur de Cdc7 permet la diminution des évènements de recombinaisons ainsi qu’une diminution du stress réplicatif de l’ADN. En intervenant sur le gène Mcm2 grâce à un modèle de souris transgénique, nous parvenons à prouver qu’une diminution de l’action de Mcm2 permet une diminution du stress réplicatif de l’ADN. En somme, la première étape du développement du médulloblastome sonic hedgehog-activé est la perte d’hétérozygotie de Ptch1. Celle-ci est caractérisée par une augmentation du dommage à l’ADN engendrant une hausse des évènements de recombinaison. Plusieurs cibles potentielles de modulation s’avèrent prometteuses pour un éventuel traitement ciblé. / Medulloblastoma is one of the most common central nervous system tumors of the child. Its clinical impact, as well as the adverse effects caused by current treatments, are significant in terms of morbidity and mortality. The molecular characterization of tumors of the central nervous system has greatly evolved, particularly in the case of medulloblastoma. Previous work has established that one of the medulloblastoma sub-groups is characterized by the activation of the sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway. The most common mutation leading to this medulloblastoma subtype is the PTCH1 tumor suppressor gene mutation. Working with the Ptch1+/- mouse model, data from our la-boratory characterized the medulloblastoma tumorigenesis as a two-step process. This work focuses on the characterization of the mechanism by which this first step, the loss of heterozygosity of Ptch1, occurs. First, we revisit the in vivo role of the Boc coreceptor in the medulloblastoma tumor-igenesis. According to our results, Boc modulation does not seem to have a significant impact on tumor development. Next, we show that the Shh ligand increases DNA dam-age. This leads to an increase in recombination events which predispose to loss of het-erozygosity. We attempt to modulate Rad51 activity and observe a non-statistically sig-nificant trend to decrease recombination events with Rad51 inhibitors. We then demonstrate that Cdc7 inhibition reduces recombination events as well as DNA replica-tive stress. Using an Mcm2 transgenic mouse model, we demonstrate that a reduction in the action of Mcm2 reduces DNA replicative stress. To conclude, the first step in the development of Shh-activated medulloblastoma is the loss of heterozygosity of Ptch1. This is characterized by an increase in DNA damage leading to an increase in recombination events. Several potential modulation targets hold promise for possible targeted therapy.

Problématique. Bien que la survie des enfants atteints de la leucémie lymphoblastique aiguë (LLA) se soit grandement améliorée dans les dernières décennies, les survivants de la LLA de l’enfant sont nombreux à développer des comorbidités métaboliques sévères, comme l’obésité, des perturbations du métabolisme des glucides et des lipides ainsi que des maladies cardiovasculaires. À ce jour, peu de données probantes sont disponibles concernant les mécanismes sous-jacents au développement de ces complications cardiométaboliques. Cependant, les impacts de la maladie, du traitement et de la dysbiose intestinale sur le développement de ces désordres métaboliques sont des exemples d’hypothèses émises dans la littérature. Objectifs. Les objectifs sont de déterminer les impacts de la LLA pédiatrique et du méthotrexate sur le poids, la dyslipidémie et la résistance à l’insuline. De plus, nous souhaitons déterminer la relation entre le microbiote intestinal et le développement de complications métaboliques et évaluer les différences sexuelles concernant la réponse métabolique à la maladie et au traitement. Méthodes. Quarante souris NOD-SCID IL2Rγnull (NSG) avec un nombre égal de mâles et de femelles ont été divisés en 3 groupes : contrôle (injection de tampon phosphate salin (PBS), non traitée, n=8), non-traité (greffe de LLA, non traitée, n=16) et traité (greffe de LLA, traitée au méthotrexate, n=16) avec une dose de 5 mg/kg, 4 jours consécutifs pour une durée de 8 semaines. Un test d’hyperglycémie orale provoquée a été exécuté afin d’évaluer la tolérance au glucose. Le poids, la glycémie, les lipides sanguins, des échantillons de selles et certains tissus (le foie, les intestins et le tissu adipeux) ont été collectés à plusieurs moments durant l’expérience. Des Western blot ont été effectués afin de mesurer l’expression protéique de protéines clef du métabolisme dans le foie. La composition (abondance relative) et la diversité (α-diversité et β-diversité) du microbiote intestinal et la teneur fécale en acides gras à chaîne courte (AGCC) ont été mesurées. Les différences entre les groupes, intrasexe et longitudinales ont été analysées. Résultats. Nos résultats démontrent que la maladie elle-même a un impact sur les niveaux de cholestérol total dans le plasma et dans le foie des souris femelles. Le traitement au méthotrexate a induit une dysglycémie, à la fois à court terme et à long terme après le traitement, et a augmenté les niveaux de HDL-c dans le plasma des souris femelles. Dans le foie, une augmentation de l’activité de l’AMPKα et une diminution de l’expression protéique de FAS ont été observées chez les souris leucémiques, comparativement aux contrôles. L’analyse longitudinale du microbiote intestinal démontre des différences dans la composition du microbiote intestinal (abondance relative de la famille bactérienne S24_7 chez les mâles et β-diversité chez les femelles) et une réduction considérable du contenu fécal en acides gras en chaînes courtes (AGCC) après les traitements. Au sacrifice, les souris traitées avaient un ratio Firmicutes/Bacteriodetes inférieur comparé aux contrôles. Les souris mâles leucémiques avaient des niveaux moyens d’AGCC supérieurs et les femelles leucémiques avaient des niveaux d’AGCC inférieurs aux contrôles et cette différence était plus marquée chez les femelles traitées. Conclusion. La maladie seule provoque des changements dans le métabolisme lipidique, alors que le traitement avec le méthotrexate aggrave ces désordres en plus d’affecter les paramètres glucidiques. Ces effets ont principalement été observés chez les souris femelles. Des changements des protéines hépatiques clés impliquées dans la régulation du métabolisme des lipides et des glucides et au niveau du microbiote intestinal pourraient être des mécanismes expliquant le développement de ces complications chez les femelles. / Context. Although survival of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has greatly improved in recent decades, many survivors of childhood ALL develop severe metabolic comorbidities, such as obesity, disturbances in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and cardiovascular disease. To date, little evidence is available concerning the mechanisms underlying the development of these cardiometabolic complications. However, the impact of the disease, the treatment and intestinal dysbiosis on the development of these metabolic disorders are examples of hypotheses put forward in the literature. Objectives. The objectives are to determine the impact of pediatric ALL and methotrexate on weight, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. In addition, we aim to determine the relationship between the gut microbiota and the development of metabolic complications, and to assess sex differences in metabolic response to disease and treatment. Methods. Forty NOD-SCID IL2Rγnull (NSG) mice with equal numbers of males and females were divided into 3 groups: control (Phosphate-buffered saline injection (PBS), non-treated, n=8), untreated (LLA graft, non-treated, n=16) and treated (LLA graft, treated with methotrexate, n=16) with a dose of 5 mg/kg, 4 consecutive days for 8 weeks. An OGTT test was performed to assess glucose tolerance. Weight, blood glucose, blood lipids, stool samples and selected tissues (liver, intestine and adipose tissue) were collected at several points during the experiment. Western blots were performed to measure protein expression of key metabolic proteins in liver. The composition (relative abundance) and diversity (α-diversity and β-diversity) of the gut microbiota and the fecal content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured. Differences between groups, within sex and between longitudinal data were analyzed. Results. Our results show that the disease itself had an impact on the cholesterol levels in plasma and in the liver of female mice. Methotrexate treatment induced dysglycemia, both and in the long term after the treatment and increased plasma HDL-c levels of female mice. In the liver, an increase in AMPKα activity and a decrease in FAS protein expression were observed in leukemic mice, compared with controls. Longitudinal analysis of the gut microbiota demonstrated differences in gut microbiota composition (relative abundance of the S24_7 bacterial family in males and β-diversity in females) and a considerable reduction in fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content after methotrexate treatment. At sacrifice, treated mice had a lower Firmicutes/Bacteriodetes ratio than controls. Male leukemic mice had higher mean SCFA levels, and female leukemic mice had lower SCFA levels than controls, with this difference being more marked in treated females. Conclusion. The disease alone causes changes in lipid metabolism, while treatment with methotrexate aggravates these disorders and affects carbohydrate parameters. These effects were mainly observed in female mice. Changes in key hepatic proteins involved in the regulation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and in the intestinal microbiota could be mechanisms explaining the development of these complications in females.

Background & Aims: Despite advances in surgical care and chemotherapeutic regimens, the five-year survival rate for Stage IV Hepatoblastoma (HB), the predominant pediatric liver tumor, remains at 27%. YAP1 and β-Catenin co-activation occurs in 80% of children’s HB; however, a lack of conditional genetic models precludes exploration of tumor maintenance and therapeutic targets. Thus, the clinical need for a targeted therapy remains unmet. Given the predominance of YAP1 and β-catenin activation in children’s tumors, I sought to evaluate YAP1 as a therapeutic target in HB. Approach & Results: Herein, I engineered the first conditional murine model of HB using hydrodynamic injection to deliver transposon plasmids encoding inducible YAP1S127A, constitutive β-CateninDelN90, and a luciferase reporter to murine liver. Tumor regression was evaluated using in vivo bioluminescent imaging, and tumor landscape characterized using RNA sequencing, ATAC sequencing and DNA foot-printing. Here I show that YAP1 withdrawal in mice mediates >90% tumor regression with survival for 230+ days. Mechanistically, YAP1 withdrawal promotes apoptosis in a subset of tumor cells and in remaining cells induces a cell fate switch driving therapeutic differentiation of HB tumors into Ki-67 negative “hbHep cells.” hbHep cells have hepatocyte-like morphology and partially restored mature hepatocyte gene expression. YAP1 withdrawal drives formation of hbHeps by modulating liver differentiation transcription factor (TF) occupancy. Indeed, tumor-derived hbHeps, consistent with their reprogrammed transcriptional landscape, regain partial hepatocyte function and can rescue liver damage in mice. Conclusions: YAP1 withdrawal, without modulation of oncogenic β-Catenin, significantly regresses hepatoblastoma, providing the first in vivo data to support YAP1 as a therapeutic target for HB. Modulating YAP1 expression alone is sufficient to drive long-term regression in hepatoblastoma because it promotes cell death in a subset of tumor cells and modulates transcription factor occupancy to reverse the fate of residual tumor cells to mimic functional hepatocytes.