title: Treatment with the gonadotropin-releasinghormone agonist buserelin to protect spermatogenesis against cytotoxic treatment in young men.
abstract: We treated 20 young men, after giving informed consent, with buserelin during their tumor treatment period. 11 of them suffered from Hodgkins disease, 2 had a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 6 had a seminoma and 1 patient had an embryonic carcinoma of the testis. 7 of these patients received cytostatic treatment with MOPP and/or ABVD, 9 patients had a radiation treatment, 3 received both treatments. One patient remained free of further treatment. Buserelin treatment was recommended to start at least 7 days prior to the tumor treatment, the interval ranged between 7 and 43 days. It ended on the same day as the tumor treatment or some days later, but this recommendation was followed only in 12 patients. 4 patients cessated buserelin treatment before end of the tumor therapy, and 4 other dropped out of the study. Testosterone plasma levels were measured before, during and after treatment with buserelin. 7 days after starting they were increased in most patients, while they were lower after 14 days and at the end of treatment period. Semen analysis showed sperm counts of 1 to 44 millions/ml with motility rates from 9 to 81%. In only ten patients we analysed a semen sample up to 6 months after cessation of treatment. In all but one we found azoospermia. Thus this treatment at now cannot be recommended in young men undergoing cytotoxic treatment to preserve fertility.
authors: Dept. Andrology, Center Dermatology, Center Internal Medicine Phillips- Universität, Marburg a. d. Lahn.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Krause
authors: K H
authors: KH
authors: Pflüger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000009:adverse effects; D002064:Buserelin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000628:therapy; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000009:adverse effects; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000009:adverse effects; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D011344:Procarbazine; D013739:Testosterone; D008466:Mechlorethamine; D014750:Vincristine; D014747:Vinblastine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002064:Buserelin; D011241:Prednisone