Effects of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy on ovarian function in women undergoing treatment for soft tissue sarcoma

Journal Article · Mon Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1981 · JNCI, J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5475130

Shamberger, R C; Sherins, R J; Ziegler, J L; Glatstein, E; Rosenberg, S A

Ovarian function was evaluated in 11 women 16 to 43 years of age at treatment who received doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and high doses of methotrexate with or without radiotherapy in adjuvant therapy of soft tissue sarcoma. Five women (16-33 yr old) who received chemotherapy alone or combined with radiotherapy only at sites distant from the ovaries (chest wall, thigh, and leg) had minimal menstrual irregularities or temporary cessation of menses during therapy; cyclic menses returned promptly after therapy. Gonadotropin levels (expressed as means +/- SD (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 10 +/- 5 mlU/ml; luteinizing hormone (LH), 10 +/- 4 mlU/ml) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) levels (means +/- SD, 208 +/- 147 pg/ml) were normal. By contrast, 4 older women (ages 36-43 yr) who received similar treatment developed persistent amenorrhea with postmenopausal levels of gonadotropin (FSH, 108 +/- 29 mlU/ml; LH, 72 +/- 19 mlU/ml) and E2 (19 +/- 8 pg/ml). Two additional women (ages 21 and 39 yr) who received radiation (7,000 rad) to the pelvis plus chemotherapy developed prompt cessation of menses and became functional castrates (FSH, 77 and 80 mlU/ml; LH, 40 and 58 mlU/ml; E2, 10 and 19 pg/ml). However, this result would be expected from the radiation dose alone. The data demonstrated that ovarian dysfunction may follow the use of doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and high doses of methotrexate and that the injury is age related.

• Research Organization: Surgery Branch, Division of Cancer Treatment, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 5475130
• Journal Information: JNCI, J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States), Journal Name: JNCI, J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States) Vol. 67:6; ISSN JJIND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE DEPENDENCE
ALKYLATING AGENTS
ANIMALS
ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS
ANTIBIOTICS
ANTIMETABOLITES
ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUGS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CHEMOTHERAPY
DISEASES
DOXORUBICIN
DRUGS
ENDOXAN
ESTRADIOL
ESTRANES
ESTROGENS
FEMALE GENITALS
FEMALES
FSH
GONADOTROPINS
GONADS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE DRUGS
LH
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICINE
MENSTRUATION DISORDERS
METHOTREXATE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OVARIES
PATIENTS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
PRIMATES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SARCOMAS
SIDE EFFECTS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
THERAPY
VERTEBRATES
WOMEN