OBJECTIVE: To compare the semen quality and hormonal status between patients with testicular cancer and normal versus increased serum levels of beta-hCG. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Academic research environment. PATIENT(S): All 203 patients with testicular cancer who required chemotherapy in the period 1995-2003 were included. INTERVENTION(S): In 107 patients semen samples were stored by cryopreservation; 62 patients could be analyzed because both semen was stored and hormones were determined before starting chemotherapy (median age 25 years, range 17-49 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Total motile sperm count, T, E(2), LH, FSH, and PRL. RESULT(S): Total motile sperm count was decreased in patients with increased beta-hCG (median 11.9 x 10(6)) compared with patients with normal beta-hCG (median 21.5 x 10(6)). Testosterone, E(2), and PRL were significantly higher in patients with increased beta-hCG levels, whereas LH and FSH were lower. Semen quality was significantly and negatively correlated with beta-hCG, E(2), and PRL. CONCLUSION(S): Patients with increased beta-hCG had an inferior spermatogenesis compared with patients with normal beta-hCG. Increased beta-hCG appears to be associated with impaired spermatogenesis and increased levels of E(2) and PRL.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the semen quality and hormonal status between patients with testicular cancer and normal versus increased serum levels of beta-hCG. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Academic research environment. PATIENT(S): All 203 patients with testicular cancer who required chemotherapy in the period 1995-2003 were included. INTERVENTION(S): In 107 patients semen samples were stored by cryopreservation; 62 patients could be analyzed because both semen was stored and hormones were determined before starting chemotherapy (median age 25 years, range 17-49 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Total motile sperm count, T, E(2), LH, FSH, and PRL. RESULT(S): Total motile sperm count was decreased in patients with increased beta-hCG (median 11.9 x 10(6)) compared with patients with normal beta-hCG (median 21.5 x 10(6)). Testosterone, E(2), and PRL were significantly higher in patients with increased beta-hCG levels, whereas LH and FSH were lower. Semen quality was significantly and negatively correlated with beta-hCG, E(2), and PRL. CONCLUSION(S): Patients with increased beta-hCG had an inferior spermatogenesis compared with patients with normal beta-hCG. Increased beta-hCG appears to be associated with impaired spermatogenesis and increased levels of E(2) and PRL.
Authors: Paweł J Wiechno; Maria Kowalska; Jakub Kucharz; Małgorzata Sadowska; Wojciech Michalski; Grażyna Poniatowska; Joanna Jońska-Gmyrek; Joanna Rzymkowska; Karol Nietupski; Tomasz Demkow Journal: Med Oncol Date: 2017-04-07 Impact factor: 3.064
Authors: Donatella Paoli; Francesco Pallotti; Andrea Lenzi; Francesco Lombardo Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2018-09-13 Impact factor: 5.555
Authors: F Faja; F Finocchi; T Carlini; F Rizzo; F Pallotti; M Spaziani; G Balercia; A Lenzi; D Paoli; F Lombardo Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2021-03-04 Impact factor: 4.256