Study Design

Eligibility criteria for participation in SJLIFE initially includes diagnosis of pediatric cancer treated or followed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, attained age of 18 years or older, and survival of 10 or more years from diagnosis. In 2015, eligibility criteria were expanded to include 5-year survivors of any age up to June 30, 2012.

The SJLIFE study design involves a retrospective cohort with prospective follow-up and ongoing accrual. The retrospective component of SJLIFE utilizes data from surviving cancer patients treated at SJCRH since its opening in 1962.

Study Methods

Before the St. Jude LIFE evaluation, survivor medical records are abstracted to ascertain all chemotherapy received, including cumulative doses for 32 specific chemotherapeutic agents, surgical procedures, radiation treatment fields, dose, and energy source, and hematopoietic cell transplantation. Key health events, especially life-threatening organ toxicity, and subsequent malignancies are also obtained and validated by review of medical records. Participants complete a battery of questionnaires that provide patient-reported outcomes of sociodemographics, health status, and interval medical events. The campus evaluation includes a comprehensive clinical assessment including neurocognitive testing and an evaluation of neuromuscular function in the Human Performance Lab, as well as collection of biological specimens. After the campus visit, events reported or newly discovered are followed up by the clinical team and medical records are obtained to validate new diagnoses of health conditions. Specimens in the biorepository are available for future investigations evaluating the association of health outcomes and specific biomarkers and genetic factors.