BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To determine the effect of curative radiation therapy (46-50 Gy) on the sex hormone levels in male rectal cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five male rectal cancer patients (mean age 65 years), receiving pelvic radiation therapy (2 Gyx23-25 fractions in 5 weeks) were included. Serum testosterone, FSH and LH were determined before start of treatment, at the 10th and 25th fractions, and 4-6 weeks after completed radiotherapy. The testicular dose was determined by thermoluminescent dosimetry. RESULTS: Five weeks of radiation therapy (46-50 Gy) resulted in a 100% increase in serum FSH, a 70% increase in LH, and a 25% reduction in testosterone levels. After treatment, 35% of the patients had serum testosterone levels below lower limit of reference. The mean radiation dose to the testicles was 8.4 Gy. A reduction in testosterone values was observed already after a mean dose of 3.3 Gy (10th fraction). CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy (46-50 Gy) for rectal cancer resulted in a significant increase in serum FSH and LH and a significant decrease in testosterone levels, indicating that sex hormone production is sensitive to radiation exposure in patients with a mean age of 65 years.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To determine the effect of curative radiation therapy (46-50 Gy) on the sex hormone levels in male rectal cancerpatients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five male rectal cancerpatients (mean age 65 years), receiving pelvic radiation therapy (2 Gyx23-25 fractions in 5 weeks) were included. Serum testosterone, FSH and LH were determined before start of treatment, at the 10th and 25th fractions, and 4-6 weeks after completed radiotherapy. The testicular dose was determined by thermoluminescent dosimetry. RESULTS: Five weeks of radiation therapy (46-50 Gy) resulted in a 100% increase in serum FSH, a 70% increase in LH, and a 25% reduction in testosterone levels. After treatment, 35% of the patients had serum testosterone levels below lower limit of reference. The mean radiation dose to the testicles was 8.4 Gy. A reduction in testosterone values was observed already after a mean dose of 3.3 Gy (10th fraction). CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy (46-50 Gy) for rectal cancer resulted in a significant increase in serum FSH and LH and a significant decrease in testosterone levels, indicating that sex hormone production is sensitive to radiation exposure in patients with a mean age of 65 years.
Authors: John Tapper; Stefan Arver; Torbjörn Holm; Matteo Bottai; Mikael Machado; Ravi Jasuja; Anna Martling; Christian Buchli Journal: Eur J Surg Oncol Date: 2019-07-19 Impact factor: 4.424
Authors: S Hennies; H A Wolff; K Jung; M Rave-Fränk; J Gaedcke; M Ghadimi; C F Hess; H Becker; R M Hermann; H Christiansen Journal: Strahlenther Onkol Date: 2012-08-11 Impact factor: 3.621
Authors: Naoya Hattori; Ajay K Gopal; Andrew T Shields; Darrell R Fisher; Ted Gooley; John M Pagel; Oliver W Press; Joseph G Rajendran Journal: Nucl Med Commun Date: 2012-12 Impact factor: 1.690
Authors: Johannes Rosenbrock; Andrés Vásquez-Torres; Horst Mueller; Karolin Behringer; Matthias Zerth; Eren Celik; Jiaqi Fan; Maike Trommer; Philipp Linde; Michael Fuchs; Peter Borchmann; Andreas Engert; Simone Marnitz; Christian Baues Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2021-05-25 Impact factor: 6.244