BACKGROUND: Cumulative exposure to alkylating agents may produce impaired reproductive function. Temozolomide is an alkylating agent approved for treating malignant gliomas. OBJECTIVE: A pilot study was undertaken to investigate the effects of temozolomide on semen integrity in men with newly diagnosed or recurrent malignant gliomas. METHODS: Eligible patients had no known fertility problems or impotence. Comprehensive semen analysis and serum sex hormones were obtained at baseline and following 3 and at least 6 months of temozolomide. RESULTS: Thirteen men were recruited. Mean age was 42 years (28-58). Three had recurrent and 10 newly diagnosed malignant glioma. Four were unable to ejaculate or were azoospermic at baseline. Four provided samples at baseline and after at least 6 months of temozolomide. Five were unable to complete the study. Two of four patients with paired baseline and 6-month samples received 6 months of standard monthly temozolomide. Two patients received standard radiation and concurrent temozolomide followed by adjuvant temozolomide. At 6 months, three of these four patients demonstrated low sperm motility (two low at baseline); three had abnormally low percent normal forms (one abnormal at baseline); two developed abnormally low sperm density. Sex hormone values were normal in all four patients at all time points. CONCLUSION: Changes in semen analysis parameters following 6 months of temozolomide were observed. The small sample size precludes any firm conclusions regarding the importance and duration of these findings and their relation to temozolomide exposure. With validation in a larger study, these results may have important implications for counseling prior to initiation of temozolomide therapy in these patients.
BACKGROUND: Cumulative exposure to alkylating agents may produce impaired reproductive function. Temozolomide is an alkylating agent approved for treating malignant gliomas. OBJECTIVE: A pilot study was undertaken to investigate the effects of temozolomide on semen integrity in men with newly diagnosed or recurrent malignant gliomas. METHODS: Eligible patients had no known fertility problems or impotence. Comprehensive semen analysis and serum sex hormones were obtained at baseline and following 3 and at least 6 months of temozolomide. RESULTS: Thirteen men were recruited. Mean age was 42 years (28-58). Three had recurrent and 10 newly diagnosed malignant glioma. Four were unable to ejaculate or were azoospermic at baseline. Four provided samples at baseline and after at least 6 months of temozolomide. Five were unable to complete the study. Two of four patients with paired baseline and 6-month samples received 6 months of standard monthly temozolomide. Two patients received standard radiation and concurrent temozolomide followed by adjuvant temozolomide. At 6 months, three of these four patients demonstrated low sperm motility (two low at baseline); three had abnormally low percent normal forms (one abnormal at baseline); two developed abnormally low sperm density. Sex hormone values were normal in all four patients at all time points. CONCLUSION: Changes in semen analysis parameters following 6 months of temozolomide were observed. The small sample size precludes any firm conclusions regarding the importance and duration of these findings and their relation to temozolomide exposure. With validation in a larger study, these results may have important implications for counseling prior to initiation of temozolomide therapy in these patients.
Authors: S Viviani; G Ragni; A Santoro; L Perotti; E Caccamo; E Negretti; P Valagussa; G Bonadonna Journal: Eur J Cancer Date: 1991 Impact factor: 9.162
Authors: I Berthaut; D Montjean; L Dessolle; K Morcel; F Deluen; C Poirot; A Bashamboo; K McElreavey; C Ravel Journal: J Assist Reprod Genet Date: 2013-05-08 Impact factor: 3.412
Authors: David Schiff; Eudocia Q Lee; Lakshmi Nayak; Andrew D Norden; David A Reardon; Patrick Y Wen Journal: Neuro Oncol Date: 2014-10-30 Impact factor: 12.300
Authors: Virginia Zamponi; Anna La Salvia; Maria Grazia Tarsitano; Nevena Mikovic; Maria Rinzivillo; Francesco Panzuto; Elisa Giannetta; Antongiulio Faggiano; Rossella Mazzilli Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-07-08 Impact factor: 4.964
Authors: Andrew L Lin; Mark T A Donoghue; Sharon L Wardlaw; T Jonathan Yang; Lisa Bodei; Viviane Tabar; Eliza B Geer Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2020-12-01 Impact factor: 5.958