Conference report reveals critical gaps in integrating exercise oncology into pediatric cancer care, highlighting the need to translate clinical evidence into routine practice.
Pediatric exercise oncology examines the impact of exercise across the treatment journey and into survivorship. This includes examining potential biological mechanisms; physical, mental, and emotional well-being potential outcomes; and the implementation of exercise interventions across clinical and community settings. Despite the growing evidence on positive impacts, exercise largely remains separate from pediatric cancer care. The Pediatric Exercise Oncology Congress, in conjunction with the European research teams leading FORTEe (a Horizon 2020-funded study across 10 European countries), was held in Mainz, Germany, in April 2026. Two days of invited talks, research oral and poster presentations included research on biological mechanisms, clinical integration and modes of delivery, intervention impacts ranging across physical and psychosocial outcomes, and patient and community partner perspectives. The conference provided an opportunity to build networks, engage in discussions on what ‘really’ matters to grow the research and impact of this field, and the need to move evidence to practice to support wellness across childhood and adolescent cancer journeys.
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Culos-Reed et al. (2026) studied this question.
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