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Title: Primary gonadal damage following treatment of brain tumors in childhood

Abstract

Gonadal function was studied in two groups of children previously treated for medulloblastoma with surgery followed by postoperative craniospinal irradiation. In group 1 but not in group 2, the children also received adjuvant chemotherapy for one to two years. All children in group 1 received a nitrosourea (BCNU or CCNU), plus vincristine in four and procarbazine in three patients. The nine children in group 1 showed clinical and biochemical evidence of gonadal damage with elevated serum FSH concentrations and, in the boys, small testes for their stage of pubertal development. In group 2 (n . 8), each child had completed pubertal development normally, the boys had adult sized testes and the girls regular menses. Gonadotropin values were normal in all eight children. We conclude that nitrosoureas were responsible for the gonadal damage in the children in group 1, with procarbazine also contributing to the damage in the three children who received this drug. In view of the limited proved value of adjuvant chemotherapy with nitrosoureas in the treatment of medulloblastoma, recognition of this serious complication of cytotoxic drug therapy may necessitate reassessing in which subgroups of children with medulloblastoma the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy outweigh the complications.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6723116
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Pediatr.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 103:4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; BRAIN; NEOPLASMS; CHEMOTHERAPY; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; GONADS; PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES; RADIOTHERAPY; PATIENTS; SURGERY; BODY; CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; DISEASES; MEDICINE; NERVOUS SYSTEM; NUCLEAR MEDICINE; ORGANS; RADIOLOGY; THERAPY; 560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man

Citation Formats

Ahmed, S R, Shalet, S M, Campbell, R H, and Deakin, D P. Primary gonadal damage following treatment of brain tumors in childhood. United States: N. p., 1983. Web. doi:10.1016/S0022-3476(83)80584-8.
Ahmed, S R, Shalet, S M, Campbell, R H, & Deakin, D P. Primary gonadal damage following treatment of brain tumors in childhood. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(83)80584-8
Ahmed, S R, Shalet, S M, Campbell, R H, and Deakin, D P. 1983. "Primary gonadal damage following treatment of brain tumors in childhood". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(83)80584-8.
@article{osti_6723116,
title = {Primary gonadal damage following treatment of brain tumors in childhood},
author = {Ahmed, S R and Shalet, S M and Campbell, R H and Deakin, D P},
abstractNote = {Gonadal function was studied in two groups of children previously treated for medulloblastoma with surgery followed by postoperative craniospinal irradiation. In group 1 but not in group 2, the children also received adjuvant chemotherapy for one to two years. All children in group 1 received a nitrosourea (BCNU or CCNU), plus vincristine in four and procarbazine in three patients. The nine children in group 1 showed clinical and biochemical evidence of gonadal damage with elevated serum FSH concentrations and, in the boys, small testes for their stage of pubertal development. In group 2 (n . 8), each child had completed pubertal development normally, the boys had adult sized testes and the girls regular menses. Gonadotropin values were normal in all eight children. We conclude that nitrosoureas were responsible for the gonadal damage in the children in group 1, with procarbazine also contributing to the damage in the three children who received this drug. In view of the limited proved value of adjuvant chemotherapy with nitrosoureas in the treatment of medulloblastoma, recognition of this serious complication of cytotoxic drug therapy may necessitate reassessing in which subgroups of children with medulloblastoma the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy outweigh the complications.},
doi = {10.1016/S0022-3476(83)80584-8},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6723116}, journal = {J. Pediatr.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 103:4,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983},
month = {Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983}
}