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

Journal Article · Fri May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Cancer; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(19810515)47:10<2368::AID-CNCR2820471008>3.0.CO;2-D· OSTI ID:6389570

Shamberger, R C ^[1]; Sherins, R J; Rosenberg, S A

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1. National Cancer Inst., Bethesda, MD

Testicular function was studied in 26 men with sarcoma who received adjuvant treatment with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and high-dose methotrexate (with or without radiotherapy). Testicular size, sperm output, and serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels were assessed after treatment. Five of 17 men who received chemotherapy or chemotherapy with radiotherapy to the neck, arm, chest or leg, had normal testicular function. Eight of the remaining 12 men who provided ejaculates were oligospermic or azoospermic and serum FSH was increased threefold and LH twofold; testosterone levels were normal. In men less than 40 years old, the mean FSH level was less than that of men over 40 years of age (P = 0.05), suggesting that recovery from the injury was age-related. By contrast, all nine men who received chemotherapy plus radiotherapy to the abdomen or thigh had decreased testicular size, azoospermia, fourfold increase in FSH, and twofold increase in LH levels; but testosterone concentration was normal. These data indicate that reversible testicular injury occurs after treatment with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and high-dose methotrexate; recovery is age-related. However, these agents in combination with use of adjuvant radiotherapy to the thigh or abdomen may produce permanent testicular injury even in young patients.

• OSTI ID: 6389570
• Journal Information: Cancer; (United States), Journal Name: Cancer; (United States) Vol. 47:10; ISSN CANCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603 -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE DEPENDENCE
ALKYLATING AGENTS
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
ANIMALS
ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS
ANTIBIOTICS
ANTIMETABOLITES
ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUGS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CHEMOTHERAPY
DISEASES
DOXORUBICIN
DRUGS
ENDOXAN
FSH
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
GONADOTROPINS
GONADS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE DRUGS
KETONES
LH
MALE GENITALS
MALES
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICINE
MEN
METHOTREXATE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATIENTS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
PRIMATES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SARCOMAS
SIDE EFFECTS
SPERMATOZOA
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
SURGERY
TESTES
TESTOSTERONE
THERAPY
VERTEBRATES